The DLSU Green and Lady Shuttlers once again fell agonizingly short of victory in their UAAP Season 88 campaign as they absorbed a 4-1 and 3-2 loss against the UP Fighting Maroons and NU Lady Bulldogs, respectively, earlier today, October 15, at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
Both teams failed to convert their close-call matches, losing their grip in the closing stretch and depriving them from their first win in the tournament.
Almost but not quite
Lovic Javier suited up first for the DLSU Green Shuttlers against UP Fighting Maroon’s Jewel Albo. The two traded points early, staying within striking distance of each other. Javier showcased composure and capitalized on Albo’s errors to pull off a six-to-nothing run, taking an 11-5 lead into the break. However, he eventually lost his edge as Albo surged ahead, 19-16. Refusing to back down, the Lasallian forced a deuce with a powerful attack that Albo failed to return, 20-all. In the end, Javier dropped the first set and couldn’t recover in the next, with his errors plaguing and Albo’s offensive prowess overpowering him, falling 22-20 and 21-13, as the Green-and-White slipped behind, 1-0.
In the Taft-based squad’s second game, co-captain Miguel Cuarte delivered a more polished performance in pursuit of their first win of the day. The veteran kept his mistakes to a minimum and overwhelmed UP’s Kervin Llanes with multiple attacks, dominating rallies to take the first set with ease, 21-11. The second set proved tougher, with Llanes finding his rhythm as Cuarte committed costly errors. The Fighting Maroon nearly claimed the set at 19-15, but Cuarte fired back with a 4-0 run to level the score, 19-all. Staying composed until the end, the Lasallian sealed the win, 23-21, tying the match at 1-all.
Heading into the third game all square, the rookie-senior tandem of Gift Linaban and team captain Yuan Tan faced powerhouse partners Mark Bernal and Arjay Lazareto in a pivotal doubles match. The Fighting Maroons held control for most of the game, building a six-point cushion at 16-10 in the opening set. Despite a late surge from the Lasallians, UP’s tandem maintained their composure and closed out the match in straight sets, 21-18, 21-19.
The Green Shuttlers were in the hunt for a much-needed boost in their fourth game that would determine their fate for the day. Cuarte, who earlier secured a win in the singles category, teamed up with Zaki Layno to take on Albo and Llanes. Both sides traded blows in a tightly contested opening set, unleashing stellar defense and sharp attacks. La Salle snatched the first frame after a 3-0 blitz capped by Cuarte’s crosscourt finish, 28-26. However, errors proved costly down the stretch as UP took control of the following sets, 21-17, 21-17, sealing DLSU’s fate for the day.
In their final game, DLSU looked to improve their record, fielding James Capin to battle Shan Clar. Capin opened the match with a commanding 6-0 scoring spree to take an early 7-1 lead. Clar then responded with a 5-0 blitz of his own to bring the game back on even terms, 8-all. After an exchange of runs and rallies, the first set ultimately went to Capin, who broke the 19-all deadlock with back-to-back points to secure the frame, 21-19. However, Capin struggled with offense in the second set despite his defensive ability to return every attack that Clar sent his way, surrendering 21-10 and heading into an extended set. Capin dictated the match in the third set, standing 19-17 ahead of Clar, but the Fighting Maroon’s clutch offense struck him, 21-19, ending the Green Shuttlers’ morning with a 4-1 loss.
Missed opportunity
Later in the afternoon, Viana Antonio opened for the Lady Shuttlers against Lady Bulldog Ysabel Amora. Antonio struggled to control the shuttle early on, sending several shots long and allowing her opponent to take a 10-7 lead. Amora capitalized on Antonio’s miscues, skillfully directing her shots across the court to close out both sets with double-digit margins, 21-10, 21-10.
Looking to bounce back from the tough start, Lady Tuario entered the second singles match with redemption on her mind against Karyll Rio. Tuario’s solid defense and sharp placements gave her multiple scoring chances, allowing her to cruise through the opening set, 21-10. However, momentum swung in the second set as Rio found her rhythm while the Lasallian struggled to keep pace, 21-12. With the match tied, both players traded strong rallies in the decider. NU reached the warning first at 19-17, but Tuario unleashed an impressive 4-0 run to complete the comeback, 21-17, and tie the team score at 1-all.
Both teams were eager to seize the upper hand in the third game, with Ghiselle Bautista and Antonio leading the charge for the Lady Shuttlers. The duo went up against NU Lady Bulldogs Alhana Mabale and Hailene Diaz, who matched their intensity until the break. After the short interval, the Green-and-White pulled ahead, relying on their composed defense to take the first set, 21-17. The pace shifted in the second set as the Lasallians struggled with consistency, repeatedly catching the net and conceding easy points, allowing the Bulldogs to level the match, 21-13. Refusing to let their early advantage go to waste, Antonio and Bautista entered the decider with renewed focus and surged ahead, 21-14.
With one win away from securing their maiden victory in the tournament, all eyes were on the fourth match of the day featuring Army Espe and Mia Manguilimotan against NU’s Amora and Rio. The Lasallian duo struck first, with Manguilimotan spearheading the offense and Espe anchoring the defense to edge out the opening set, 22-20. However, they struggled to maintain their rhythm in the succeeding sets, making fewer attacking attempts and repeatedly hitting the net. The miscues persisted in the decider, allowing the Bulldogs to take control and close out the match, 21-13, 21-17, denying DLSU their long-awaited first win.
In an all-stakes final match, team captain Bautista stepped into the court once again with familiar foe Diaz. Bautista could not handle the Lady Bulldog’s attacking surges, coming at her from all directions which allowed her to reach break point first, 14-7. Despite Bautista plotting plays to get some markers in the game, the Lady Shuttler eventually cracked in straight sets 21-12, 21-15, as DLSU surrendered their game-point advantage and bowed out, 2-3.
With two opponents left in the tournament, the Green and Lady Shuttlers keep their heads high in hopes of scoring a win as they face the AdU Soaring and Lady Falcons on October 16, at 8 am and 1pm, respectively, at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
