The DLSU Green Shuttlers fell short in edging out the mettlesome UP Fighting Maroons in a 3-2 crash to remain empty-handed in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Badminton Tournament yesterday, October 20, at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall. After splitting wins in the first two singles and doubles matches for a 2-all neutralizer, the smashers from Taft eventually collapsed in the rubber singles match to concede their closest encounter to a win in the season so far.
Meanwhile, the DLSU Lady Shuttlers suffered a 4-1 collapse in the Women’s Badminton Tournament, falling victim to the fierce NU Lady Bulldogs, leaving them 0-3 in the standings. Lady Tuario showed out for the Green-and-White, securing a point after a decisive win in her singles match.
So close, yet so far
Miguel Cuarte kicked things off for the Green-and-White as he locked arms with UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year Jelo Albo in the first singles match. The UP mainstay proved to be too much as he capitalized on uncharted space from Cuarte’s scrambling defense for several kill smashes. Meanwhile, the Taft-based shuttler continuously gave up free points due to numerous errors, struggling to get the shuttle over the net and eventually tripping in straight sets, 21-13 and 21-6.
In an attempt to quickly recover from a lethargic start, James Capin stepped up for the Green Shuttlers facing Fighting Maroon Johann Abinales in the second singles match. In stark contrast to the precedent match, the La Salle side was on the receiving end of free points as Abinales committed net-plagued smash errors that gave Capin a comfortable lead throughout the sets and eventually the balancing win, 21-13 and 21-11.
The match changed paces as the first doubles match commenced with Green Shuttlers Yuan Tan and Joshua Morada taking on Diliman counterparts Mark Bernal and Enzo Rivera in a thrilling 50-minute smashfest. Each side valorously fought for control of the match with several deadlocks throughout. Despite reaching set points, the duo in green failed to decisively cap things off as the Fighting Maroons stole both extended sets, 24-22 and 22-20.
In a spirit of redemption, Cuarte returned to the centerstage alongside Zaki Layno in an attempt to avenge his first singles loss to Albo in his tandem with Joshua Martinez. Cuarte conveniently showed out with a reignited flame as his drives were left unanswered by a quieter offensive showing by Albo, escaping the pesky pairing from Diliman and forcing a decider, 21-19 and 21-18.
The winless fate of the Green-and-White in the season was all left in the hands of Jason Pajarillo in the decisive third singles match against UP standout Shan Clar. The senior shuttler from DLSU immediately suffered a blitzkrieg invasion of smashes from Clar on top of various crucial errors to distantly trail throughout both sets. Despite valiant efforts to catch up, Pajarillo could not solve the puzzle of Clar’s offensive prowess, yielding the match, 21-13 and 21-13, and ultimately the series for the Green Shuttlers, 3-2.
Tough day
First on the firing line was Danica Castillo, going up against the seasoned Lady Bulldog Ysabel Amora. Castillo struggled to find her rhythm as she adjusted from her usual doubles play to a singles affair. The Lady Shuttler committed a number of wide ball errors from placement shots on the farther sides of the court, which might have worked seamlessly in a two-person format, costing her UAAP debut match in two sets, 21-5 and 21-6.
Team Captain Ghiselle Bautista sought to rally the team after their first-game blowout loss as she faced Karyll Rio in a three-set match. Bautista fought hard in the first set as her opponent came two points close to a victory by establishing a late scoring run. However, Bautista ultimately fell short, 21-16. In the second set, the Lady Shuttler saw better action, engaging in intense net play and grueling rallies against the Lady Bulldog, which eventually paid off, allowing her to secure a set win and extend the match to a third, 21-16. Unfortunately, the third set proved challenging for Bautista, as she struggled with errors and could not regain her momentum, 21-12.
As the point slipped away from their grasp, Lady Shuttlers Mia Manguilimotan and Viana Antonio were determined to battle it out against the unbeaten duo of Jeya Pinlac and Andria Songcuan. The pair displayed excellent balance in their play, with Antonio demonstrating her defensive prowess while Manguilimotan delivered sharp attacks to secure points for the team. After a series of heated exchanges, the Lady Bulldogs came forth as miscommunication and shot errors plagued the team from Taft, 21-14 and 21-18.
Facing their fate for the day, Captain Bautista returned to the Taraflex for her doubles match with Jacqueline Pantoja as they looked to secure points for the weekend. The veteran duo executed clever attacks and deceptive drops using the net to their advantage. However, they were ultimately overshadowed by pesky faults and disconnected plays, resulting in a heartbreaking loss, 21-12 and 21-13.
Last but definitely not least in the Lady Shuttlers’ loadout was Lady Tuario, as she matched up against Pinlac, seeking revenge for her teammates’ earlier losses. Tuario caught the Lady Bulldog off guard multiple times, placing the shuttle in undefended areas and outplaying her in drop fights. The highlight of the day for the Lady Shuttlers was Tuario’s limited mistakes, ensuring her opponent had to fight for every point. Nearing the end of the match, Tuario seemed poised to seal the game after a scoring run but found herself challenged by her nerves while struggling to get over the net. In the end, the Lady Shuttler prevailed and earned a point for the Green-and-White, winning 21-10 and 21-19.
After they finished for the day, Bautista shared her insights on how the team can prepare for their upcoming matches. “Siguro the adjustments we need to do for our remaining games [are] consistency and yung fighting spirit.”
(I think the adjustments we need to make for our remaining games are related to our consistency and our fighting spirit.)
Reflecting on their doubles matches, Bautista added a crucial point for the future. “Another thing will be the pairings’ communication during games to boost our performance and unity in decision-making.”
The Green and Lady Shuttlers will return on the hunt for their first win as they go head-to-head with the equally hungry AdU Soaring Falcons next weekend, Saturday, October 26, at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
