UAAP: Green Shuttlers remain undefeated, Lady Shuttlers fall to UP

The DLSU Green Shuttlers are on a roll after winning all five matches against the UE Red Warriors to stay undefeated after three games in UAAP Season 77. The Lady Shuttlers, meanwhile, fell to the UP Fighting Maroons, three games to two, as they suffered their second defeat in three three contests.

Green Shuttlers with perfect performance, still undefeated

The Green Shuttlers dominated the UE Red Warriors, taking all five matches and winning four of the games in just two sets each. With this impressive win, the Taft-based squad remains undefeated in 3 games, including a sensational come-from-behind win against rival school Ateneo last weekend.

Green Shuttler Kenneth Monterubio started the onslaught when he won against UE Red Warrior Joseph Manlangit. Monterubio finished the game early after a stellar performance with minimal errors and balanced attacks. The game ended with a score of 21-10, 21-15 for the first and second set respectively. Elijah Boac continued La Salle’s winning ways as he won a two-setter against Benjamin Silva of UE, 21-15 and 21-12. Boac cruised for the win with his strategic placing, putting his opponent in trouble.

The victories continued to pile up as the doubles matches started. The veteran duo Gerald Sibayan and Carlos Cayanan outhustled UE’s team of Joseph Manlangit and Kenneth Cruz. The game was lopsided as the Lasallian duo showed their dominance from all aspects of the court, yielding a score of 21-13 against the Red Warriors in both sets.

The match between brothers Kenneth and Joshua Monterubio and Red Warriors Ramon Guerrero and Jose Gomez was the only match between the two schools that took some time to finish. The Monterubio brothers struggled early in the game, committing unforced errors and letting UE capitalize on their disorganized plays. The set ended with a score of 17-21 in favor of the Red Warriors. The Green Shuttlers, however, found their rhythm in the middle of the second set, taking over the rest of the game as they won the second and third set, 21-15 and 21-9 respectively.

Jericson Obaob finally capped off the big win for the Green Shuttlers, winning a lopsided match against Red Warrior Mc Niel Roldan. Obaob never gave his opponent a chance as he won the first set, 21-19, and finished the game in the second set with a 12-point advantage, 21-9.

Lady Shuttlers falter against UP, drop to 1-2

The first singles match featured Lady Shuttler Aires Montilla against the state university’s representative Mary Ann Marañon. UP took both sets of the match with Marañon tallying a 21-18 and 21-17 victory with well-placed returns.

However, the Taft-based squad would return the favor in the next match as Lady Shuttler Alyssa Leonardo outduelled Lady Maroon Jessie Francisco in both sets as well, 21-19 and 21-18, respectively, to tie the score at one apiece. Leonardo showcased sharp smashes that seemed to daze Francisco who trailed for most of their match. The highlight of the match was the rally late in the first set with DLSU leading 20-18, the Diliman-based crew inched closer after falling behind by as many as five points. Francisco won the exchange to close the gap at one, but Leonardo delivered the set’s final point.

After dropping the first set of their doubles match, 21-18, DLSU’s duo of Montilla and Leonardo stomped Lady Maroons Marañon and Marina Caculitan in the succeeding sets, 21-17 and 21-16, to take a 2-1 match lead.

However, the Lady Maroons won’t be easily kept at bay as the tandem of Francisco and Maria Oncuangco allowed a deciding match by outplaying La Salle’s Kristelle Salatan and Danica San Ignacio in two sets, 21-16 and 21-15, respectively.

Despite promising signs earlier in the first set, San Ignacio failed to grab a single victory against counterpart Paola Bernardo, 21-15 and 21-16, whose performance helped UP to its third straight win, securing the top spot in the process.

The action continues this weekend as the Green Shuttlers face UP on Saturday, 9 am, and UST on Sunday, 9 am. The Lady Shuttlers look to bounce back as they will be tested against the Adamson on Saturday at 1pm. All of the games will be held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.