Ron Galve and Bien Miraflor brought University of Santo Tomas a step closer to the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Badminton Final Four, completing a 3-0 sweep of Adamson University in the first stage of the playoffs on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall in Malate, Manila.
Part of the Golden Shuttlers’ run to last year’s semifinals, the two young guns ensured that the España-based squad would still have a chance at redemption against their previous-day tormentors, the De La Salle Green Shuttlers.
They fought for a thrilling 21-19, 21-17 win over Nathaniel Acedillo and Russel Oliveros in the lone doubles match.
Galve and Miraflor had to fend off a huge comeback from the Soaring Falcons in the opening game after their 18-10 lead dwindled to a single point.
The Golden Shuttlers faltered at the net, allowing Acedillo and Oliveros to capitalize with precise short balls. Eventually, UST managed to shift the game’s pace and claim the opener.
The second game followed a similar trajectory. But using the lessons from the first, Galve and Miraflor sealed the victory, securing the squad’s advancement to the next stage of the playoffs.
The Golden Shuttlers will face the De La Salle Green Shuttlers once again for another shot at the fourth and final semifinals spot on Monday at 8:00 AM, still at the same Malate venue.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“It’s more of palagay ko may tinuturo pa sa’min si Lord na isang bagay, in a way na… Kahit may chance na mapunta na kami ro’n (sa Final Four), napunta pa kami sa ilalim. Meron Siyang gusto pakita na in a way na ‘pag umangat uli kung sakali, mas buo pa at may development na makikita sa mga players,” said head coach RJ Ormilla.
“Sa tingin ko itong version na meron ‘yung mga players ko ngayon — hindi man guaranteed na sila ‘yung mananalo, they will compete against La Salle. Win or lose, it’s OK. Pero kung makapasok ng Final Four, no one knows, depende talaga kung paano maglalaro ‘yung mga players.”
UST had earlier built a 2-0 cushion thanks to singles wins from stalwarts Lennox Cuilao and Angelo Tuazon.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Cuilao had to fend off Oliveros, an Adamson rookie, in the day’s opener, battling through three games.
Experience eventually prevailed, with the fourth-year Thomasian cruising in the decider to finish the match, 21-19, 19-21, 21-10.
Tuazon, meanwhile, wasted no time in dominating Kyrik Roldan, 21-7, 21-10, even as the match had to be moved to another court, setting the stage for Galve and Miraflor to close out the sweep.
