The National University Lady Bulldogs dominated the University of the East Lady Red Warriors, 4-1, to keep their semifinals hopes alive, Sunday afternoon at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
Jiselle Capillo opened the rout with a 21-10, 21-7 win over Erycka Labay in the first singles match. The NU senior used her length to cover the court well. Labay had no answer to Capillo’s onslaught in the middle portions of both frames as the latter cruised past the former to take the 1-0 lead for National U.
Lyra Rosal then leveled the tie with a 21-17, 21-16 decision over Mitzi Pantoja in the second singles match. The UE stalwart trailed 15-17 in the opening game before turning it around with a six-point barrage to steal it. The second game was different as Rosal dominated well throughout the frame. Pantoja tried to come back, but the lead was too much to overhaul.
Capillo and Marinel Diansay restored NU’s lead in a 21-13, 21-16 conquest of Labay and Pamela Fernandez in the first doubles match. The two Lady Bulldogs executed well on the court denying their opponents the chance to take control of the rallies.
It was a see-saw battle in the crucial second doubles match. In the end, the veteran tandem of Kezziah Culiao and Jhayvin Dizon secured win for NU after fending off Lyra and Heide Rosal in three games, 21-18, 18-21, 25-23.
Whoever dictated the pace of the rallies won the points as each time tucked one 21-18 game each under their belts. The Rosal sisters threatened to force a deciding game with a comfortable 20-15 lead. Nevertheless, the Lady Bulldogs refused to give up and eventually pulled the rag of the opponents and won the match.
Diansay sealed the win with a 21-16, 21-8 victory over Heide Rosal in the final singles.
The Lady Bulldogs (3-2) will try to stop the rampaging University of the Philippines Lady Maroons (5-0) to solidify their own semifinal bid. On their part, the Lady Warriors (0-5) continue to search for that win as they battle the De La Salle University Lady Green Shutters (3-2). Both ties will be on Wednesday, September 28 at 1pm at the same venue.
