UAAP '72 Update: Badminton

Paolo Sunga and Tobi Gadi

Blue Shuttlers maintain perfect run, Ladies clutch first win

Riding on aggressive putbacks and tricky placings, the Blue and Lady Shuttlers stamped their class on fierce opposition, toppling Far Eastern University (5-0) and the University of Sto. Tomas (3-2) respectively, rising on the records for the fourth round of the UAAP Badminton Season ‘72, August 30 at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Halls.

Untarnished Record
AdMU 5, FEU 0

The men’s team maintained their perfect 4-0 slate, sharing the top spot with the University of the Philippines. Ateneo earlier felled De La Salle University (3-2), National University (5-0), and defending champions University of the East (5-0).

The Blue Shuttlers sailed past their Morayta counterparts in the first singles matches. Pumped-up rookie Antonio Gadi (I – AB IS) and team captain Raphael Sanchez (III - BS COMTECH) gave Ateneo an early lead via 2 set wins each, 21-11, 21-6 and 21-18, 21-15 respectively. Gadi rose again together with Paolo Lorenzo Sunga (II BS LIFE-SCI) to command an imposing 21-10, 21-10 trashing of opponents Randolf Balatbat and Angelito Flores, banking on swift smashes down the midcourt.

Orville Yu (IV – BS HS) and Ranier Tiam-Lee (IV- BS AMF) recovered from a sloppy start and combined to suppress an FEU offensive on the first set, upsetting the Tamaraws, 21-15, 21-11. On the third singles, Sunga again stepped on the court to halt Kevin Cudiamat via 21-11, 21-9 stoppage, hitting long smashes and forcing the latter to commit net errors.

The Boys in Blue will face UST on Saturday, September 5, and badminton hosts Adamson University on the 6th. Coach Kennie Asuncion and her team is set to meet league-leading University of the Philippines, coached by her brother Kennevic Asuncion, on the 12th before heading to the semi-finals, on Sunday, September 13.

Carla Lizardo

Giant Slayer
AdMU 3, UST 2

The erstwhile luckless Lady Shuttlers outlasted the hard-fighting UST contingent, 3-2, in a winner-take-all singles match victory by team captain Carla Lizardo (II- AB Comm).

Ateneo took the early lead by copping the first two singles games in three-set thrillers from Lisa Encarnacion (II – BS HS) and Monica Yupangco (II- BS LIFE-SCI). Encarnacion trounced UST’s R.Decatoria with several open hits on the wing area, knocking a 16-21, 21-13, 21-11 save. Yupangco capitalized on Camille Yang’s out-of-bounds hits to rain down a flurry of smashes down the rail, 11-21, 22-20, 21-17.

However, the Ladies dropped both their doubles matches, falling behind as quick as they had captured the lead. Lizardo tandemed with Camille Bautista (IV – AB Comm) and lost on errors, 13-21, 19-21. Audrey Ng (I – BS ME) and Yupangco faltered on drop shots, 16-21, 12-20.

A revitalized Lizardo rose on the third singles and exploited Jacki Cudia’s weak lobs, smashing her way in an emotional 21-13, 21-15 conquest.

“[Beating UST] is a very big deal for us. It’s the first time we beat a good team. We are just so happy,” an elated Lizardo remarked.

“As coaches, [I and Coach Alma Ledesma] are very proud about how they played today, especially for the girls. It’s such a big upset [for UST] today; this will be a big morale booster for the team,” Coach Kennie Asuncion said.

The Ladies are set to battle NU on September 5, and UP on the 6th, and UE on the 12th.

Maraming salamat kay James Magalong ng Guidon para sa mga larawan at kay Dijo Songco ng goAteneo.com