By Charles Usi, Sports Editor of The LaSallian
Both squads of DLSU Coach Owen Lopez bolstered their respective championship bids as they streaked through the third week of the UAAP Season 74 Badminton Tournament last August 20-21 at the Badminton Hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
The Green Shuttlers blanked the University of the East, 5-0, and feathered out powerhouse Far Eastern University, 4-1 while the Lady Shuttlers swept National University and the University of the Philippines, 5-nil and 4-1, respectively.
The Taft-based squads maintained a tight grip on the second spot with identical 5-1 win-loss records behind top-notch National University in the men’s division and FEU in the distaff side, both with unblemished 6-0 records.
Routing contenders FEU
Never looking back from their opening day loss, the Green Shuttlers continued their streak against perennial powerhouse FEU for win no. 5 last August 21.
18 year-old Ronel Estanislao pummeled FEU’s Wilfredo Amoroso Jr., 21-11, 21-12 in the first singles match and teammate JC Clarito also proved his wares in edging out Kevin Alfred Dalisay 14-21, 21-8, 21-4.
DLSU’s Angsico-Sibayan and FEU’s Ian Bautista and Randolph Balatbat extended the match’s second set to the limit. The Bautista-Balatbat tandem snatched the second frame 30-29. Angsico and Sibayan, however, got the first and deciding set 21-18, 21-10 to seal the Green Shuttlers’ fifth straight win.
The Ronel Estanislao-Nej Martinez tandem outmuscled the Green-and-Gold’s Amoroso-Dalisay dyad in a hotly contested three-setter, 17-21, 21-15, 21-17. The Tamarraws, nonetheless, salvaged the last singles match with Michael Kevin Cudiamat escaping Kenneth Monterubio 12-21, 21-16, 17-21.
Extending UE’s slump
The men in Green dealt the UE Shuttlers their fifth consecutive loss with a 5-0 beating last August 20. Sophomore Estanislao opened the weekend by routing UE’s first pick Don Johnson Agustin, 21-11, 21-13, while rookie Monterubio pounded on Ramon Lorenzo Guerrero, 21-9, 21-11, in the second singles duel.
Green Shuttlers Angsico-Sibayan pulled off the same, 21-18, 29-30, 21-10 feat against Daryl Jay Solidad and Agustin. The second pair of Kevin Ponciano and Nej Martinez topped Guerrero-Jose Luis Gomez in the next doubles encounter 17-21, 21-14, 21-19, and another neophyte Lance Erickson Bautista clipped Gomez, 21-11, 21-15.
Outsmarting the Lady Maroons
Coach Owen Lopez’s ladies proved that they are back for the crown as they tripped University of the Philippines, 4-1, last August 21.
Lady Shuttler Descka Calimlim resisted Bianca Legaspi’s contest in the first singles match, 21-17, 10-21, 21-15, while Danica Bolos topped Lady Maroon Mitzel Buiza 21-11, 21-17.
Flo Lamigo and Gelli Ramos, however, left a void after allowing Diliman’s Pauline Tan and Abigail Garcia to slip past them, 14-21, 11-21. The duo of Calimlim and Bolos then repulsed Legaspi and Caitlin Dionisio, 21-15, 21-17, in the second doubles bout.
Sophomore Danica San Ignacio then put the finishing touches against Tan, 21-10, 21-15.
Taming the Lady Bulldogs
Lady Shuttlers fended off bottom-dweller National U, 5-0, in their August 20 clash. Former MVP Calimlim initiated the onslaught as she disposed of Lady Bulldog Danica Therese Llama, 21-12, 21-10. Even newbie Danica Peligrino made quick work of the second singles match, 21-6, 21-5, against Rainelle Jean Reformina.
DLSU’s doubles pair of Lamigo and Ramos defeated NU’s Llamas and Lovely Rose Talplacido, 21-12, 21-16, at the same time as the Calimlim-Bolos tandem walloped Reformina-Lovely Grace Ladi, 21-10, 21-8. Lady Shuttler San Ignacio then breezed past NU’s Irish Mae Patron 21-3, 21-6, in only 15 minutes play to seal their victory.
Up Next
The Green Shuttlers will be facing off against vastly improved NU while the Lady Shuttlers will lock horns against FEU on the last day of eliminations on August 28.