by Luisa Morales
The University of the Philippines (UP) badminton squads posted victories in Day 4 of the UAAP Season 78 badminton tournament at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall on Saturday.
Early in the day, the Diliman-based men’s shuttlers escaped with a 3-2 win against a fancied University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Shuttlers.
Miggy Leonardo opened the match in favor of UP with a tight three-set win against Paul Pantig of UST, 21-16, 16-21, 21-17.
Alcaed Sabanal of the Golden Shuttlers exacted revenge in the second match, winning against Maroon Jojo Malelang in three sets too, 21-9, 7-21, 21-18.
In doubles’ action, the Espana-based duo of Pantig and Edward Reyes swept past the tandem of CK Clemente and Joaquin Deato, 21-16, 21-11, to give a 2-1 lead to UST.
However, the Diliman-based tandem of Vinci Manuel and Roberto Pineda denied the win for the Golden Shuttlers as they tallied a three-set win over the duo of Mark Sotea and Kristian Barrios, 22-20, 20-22, 21-11. UP tied the game to 2-2.
Joseph Lopez sealed the tie for the Maroons by outpointing Edward Reyes in straight sets, 23-21, 21-13.
With this result, UP and UST have both tied its overall win-loss record with two apiece.
In women’s action, Season 77 titlists Lady Maroons flashed their dominance by disposing Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons, 5-0.
UP unleashed its form in the first match as Bea Bernardo outlasts AdU’s Mikaela Aquino in straight sets, 21-15, 21-5.
Last year’s top rookie Mary Ann Maranon gave the Lady Maroons their second match win by dominating Clydel Pada again in straight sets, 21-9, 21-10.
In doubles’ play, the tandem of Diliman-based shuttlers Jessie Francisco and Lea Inlayo outpointed the San Marcelino-based duo of Christine Garin and Margarita Villacorta, 21-8, 21-10.
The Falcons once again bowed down to the Maroons as UP’s Bernardo and Elisha Ongcuangco took the match against AdU’s Aquino and Pada, 21-15, 21-12.
Ann Jeline Masongsong closed the match by sweeping Lady Falcon Christine Garin, 21-19, 21-10, to give UP a 4-0 record in the overall team standings.
This article was originally published on the Tinig ng Plaridel Facebook page.
