The DLSU Men’s Badminton Team returned to the UAAP finals at the expense of their opposites from archrival school ADMU. Heading into the tie DLSU had a twice-to-beat advantage over ADMU which they took full advantage of, sweeping the Katipunan squad 3-0.
The first match was a singles tie between DLSU’s Anton Cayanan and ADMU’s Carlo Remo. The first game was a close encounter with Remo forcing a deuce against Cayanan courtesy of making the latter commit a fault. Remo narrowly pulled through, winning 24-22. Unlike the first game, the second was an easy win for Cayanan. Recovering from his close loss in the first game, Cayanan easily won the second game 21-11 having led all throughout this one. The third game was as close as the first with both competitors scoring points and forcing faults off each other. Cayanan led 17-13 after the interval, only for Remo to score four successive points to equalize at 17-17. From then on, Cayanan regained his composure to lead 19-17. Afterwards, Remo equalized to level the scores at 19-19. The third game was won 21-19 by Cayanan after he scored two successive points to win DLSU the first match of the tie.
Kenneth Monterubio won the second singles match for DLSU in a straight games victory over Clarence Filart of ADMU. Down in the first game by 12-13, Monterubio raised his performance to lead 15-13. It was all Monterubio by that point with Filart unable to re-impose himself in the game. Monterubio won the first game 21-17. The second game had a similar feel to the first due to Filart holding a big 15-19 lead over Monterubio. On the other hand, unforced errors by Filart gave the momentum back to Monterubio who then equalized at 19-19. Monterubio went ahead at 20-19 only for Filart to force a deuce. After multiple thrilling rallies, Moterubio notched DLSU its second match with Filart left to rue his numerous unforced errors which cost him a potential comeback.
Cayanan returned for the first doubles match with Gerald Sibayan as his partner in representing DLSU. ADMU’s Remo and Hanz Bernardo competed for the Blue and White in the hope of extending their team’s season. Alas it wasn’t meant to be as Cayanan and Sibayan overpowered them from the start of the match, winning both games 21-16.
As a consequence, ADMU finish third in the UAAP Season 78 Men’s Badminton Tournament.
The Green Archers march on against NU in the UAAP Season 78 Men’s Badminton Finals. Hoping to join them later are the Lady Archers who are aiming to repeat the feat of their male counterparts in beating ADMU to reach the UAAP Season 78 Women’s Badminton Finals versus UP.
