The National University Bulldogs once again showed their dominance in men’s badminton as they defeated the Adamson University Falcons earlier today at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall. The Bulldogs shut down the Falcons, winning all five matches in just two games each.
National University had had another stellar outing last season, going undefeated and clinching their second straight UAAP championship. Adamson, on the other hand, fell short of the final four during Season 78.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year Keeyan Gabuelo of NU defeated Elben Concha of the Falcons in the first singles match of the day in just two games. Concha scored the first two points of the match against Gabuelo with his placing. However, Gabuelo showed his experience early on as he scored five straight points against Concha’s defense. Gabuelo continued his dominance to keep Concha at bay for the rest of the game that ended with a score of 21-15. Gabuelo then finished off the first match in the second game, dominating the second set, 21-8.
It was the same story for the second singles match as NU Bulldog Roslee Pedrosa won in a two-setter against AdU’s Gerloth Delizo. Pedrosa overwhelmed Delizo with his quick smashes and controlled the whole match as he ended with a score of 21-7, 21-5 in the first and second game respectively.
The Bulldogs then clinched the win, as the duo of Mike Minuluan and Alem Palmares proved to be too much against Joshua Antonio and Jelo Iquina of Adamson in the first doubles match of the day in two games, 21-13, 21-8.
National University continued their hot streak in the two remaining matches that had no bearing in the tie’s results. In the final doubles match of the day, Alvin Miranda and Jervin Carlos of NU won against the Adamson duo of Elben Concha and Gerlot Delizo with a score of 18-21, 15-21 in just two games.
Mike Minuluan then capped off the win for the Bulldogs as he overwhelmed Karl Zamora of AdU, 10-21, 2-21 in the first and second game respectively.