As the DLSU Green Shuttlers and the Lady Shuttlers concluded their last UAAP run as bronze medalists for the second season in a row, both teams look to step up against the rest of the competition in their bid for a gold medal as they enter the 76th season of the UAAP.
Last year, their rivals, the ADMU Blue Eagles, forced the Green Shuttlers out of the final four run while the bridesmaids to the crown, the FEU Lady Tamaraws, ended the Lady Shuttlers’ campaign.
With their consistent final four appearances in the annual competition, Owen Lopez’s squads have bolstered their arsenal in an attempt to break free from the bronze ties that bind them and snatch the gold medals in both divisions.
New season, higher expectations
Though landing as third placers in the previous UAAP season for both the Men’s and Women’s divisions, the Green and Lady Shuttlers expect a lot more from themselves this season. Their quest for a championship has even bigger implications this year as they are not just looking to improve their bronze placing, but are also tasked to help defend the first UAAP General Championship of DLSU.
Coach Owen Lopez encourages his players’ morale by setting his mission and a vision for the upcoming season, sharing, “We have to retain the number three position and the overall championship throne because that’s what’s really difficult. But we expect to achieve more and hopefully we can do it this season.”
Status of the team
Despite the off-season conditioning and training that the team underwent, Lopez states his concerns on how the Green Shuttslers might lack diversity when it comes to the overall roster for this year, as some of his players are not allowed to compete in the league.
Lopez admits that two of his top players cannot compete for next season due to ineligibility. However, a promising set of rookies will allow Lopez to rebuild and reinforce the Green Shuttlers’ roster, and he has high hopes for this new batch of Shuttlers.
The team is currently experimenting with its rookies, and is trying to determine which players specialize and excel more in singles or doubles. The players would then be assigned their competitions according to their strengths, after the matter of their skills and coordination has been settled.
The teams will be competing this coming Sunday, September 1, at the Jump Smash Badminton Court in Quezon City at 9 am.
