THE UST Lady Shuttlers sealed their third consecutive semifinal appearance behind a 3-1 victory over the DLSU Lady Shuttlers in the UAAP Season 88 women’s badminton playoffs on Monday, Oct. 20, at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
UST will face its Season 86 semifinals opponent and league-best Ateneo Blue Eagles on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the same venue.
Graduating Mia Manguilimotan opened with a dominant 21-11, 21-13 win against España newcomer Christine Dorega in the first singles match.
In the second singles rubber, UST’s Hanie de Jesus leveled the score with a thrilling 58-minute victory over DLSU’s Zascha Tuario, 21-16, 19-21, 21-18.
UST seniors Jennifer Saladaga and Rhafi Santos outdueled the Taft tandem of Viana Antonio and Ghiselle Bautista, 21-17, 21-15, to go up 2-1 heading into the clincher.
The rookie-senior pair of De Jesus and Marielle Alvarez then finished the job for UST in a swift 21-17, 21-17 win against Manguilimotan and Army Espe to earn the last Final Four spot. F
