THE UST Lady Shuttlers’ podium drought stretched to 17 years after yielding to the UP Fighting Maroons, 3-0, in the UAAP Season 88 women’s badminton battle for bronze on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
This marks the third straight season that the España squad finished in fourth place.
Smash Pilipinas standout Sushmita Ramos opened the scoring for UP, edging UST’s Reshane Nicor in a tightly contested first singles match, 21-19, 22-20.
Last season’s MVP Anthea Gonzales followed through with a dominant performance against UST rookie Hanie de Jesus, 21-15, 21-8, in the second singles match to put the Maroons on the brink of the podium.
De Jesus was able to secure the Rookie of the Year award, alongside Fighting Maroon Brys Fugan.
Rookie tandem Krissa de Leon and Trisha Postrano then delivered the finishing blow, clinching the bronze for UP after defeating UST’s doubles pair Jennifer Saldaga and Rhafi Anne Santos in straight sets, 21-18, 21-18.
The Lady Shuttlers finished the elimination round with a 1-4 win-loss slate. F
