The De La Salle Green Shuttlers barged into the winning column in the second day of UAAP Season 75 Badminton tournament after an aggressive display that lifted the squad well above the UE Red Warriors’ reach last August 12 at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Courts.
The Ronel Estanislao-Lance Bautista partnership iced the occasion for the men in Green-and-White with a 21-12, 21-15 victory against UE’s Marco Bermejo and Daryll Soledad.
Green Shuttlers mentor Owen Lopez expressed his satisfaction with the team’s play, especially with their character after losing to defending champions Ateneo Blue Shuttlers last August 6.
“Everyone [team] played well and contributed to this victory,” Lopez explained in Filipino.
He, however, finds that the team needs to improve on the coordination among pairs during the game. He also noted that the players are still in the process of adjustment, especially with the pairings, rotation, and the crowd. Moreover, he furthered the need to keep players focused in the game.
Kenneth Monterubio started the rout with his 21-16, 21-10 conquest of Daryll Soledad while Season 74’s Most Improved Player JC Clarito tallied a 21-10, 21-12 triumph over Ramon Guerrero.
After sealing a tie, courtesy of Estanislao and Bautista, and with two games to spare, the Taft-based smashers displayed ruthless form with the Gerald Sibayan-Anton Cayanan tandem, dismantling the Wis Gomez-Ramon Guerrero combo 21-26, 21-7.
EJ Boac culminated the game for the Green Shuttlers; he did not drop a single set, with his 21-11, 21-6 domination of Lorenz Gatpolintan.
With the season starting for the Shuttlers, Coach Lopez and the rest of the team are optimistic for the coming games. “As long as they are helping each other, we are more difficult to beat,” ended Lopez.
