THE UST Tiger Shuttlers fell short of a semifinals berth after suffering a 3-0 sweep from the DLSU Green Shuttlers in their UAAP Season 88 men’s badminton playoff match at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Badminton Hall on Monday, Oct. 20.
UST settled for fifth place, missing the Final Four for the first time since Season 85 and extending its podium drought to 13 years.
In the first singles match, DLSU rookie Lovic Javier romped fellow newcomer Aaron Bendaña in straight sets, 22-20, 21-11.
Junior Green Shuttler James Capin overpowered UST captain Angelo Tuazon in a 21-14, 21-16 bout in the next singles rubber, taking a 2-0 lead for DLSU.
The Taft tandem of Joshua Morada and Yuan Tan sealed the deal in the lone doubles match decider.
Despite UST duo Ron Galve and Bien Miraflor’s one-set lead, the DLSU pair rallied back to complete the sweep and book their long-awaited return to the semifinals, 22-20, 20-22, 21-17.
The Tiger Shuttlers bow out of the season with a 2-4 record. F
