John Vincent Espinoza and Manuel Fulmentera came through in the second doubles match to propel the University of Santo Tomas to a 3–2 victory over De La Salle University and, more importantly, a playoff for the last spot in the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Badminton Team Event Final Four on Saturday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
After struggling at the start of the season, the young Golden Shuttlers pair have found their stride following their victory over National University’s John Benedict Gam and Jacinth Paul Ruedas last Tuesday. They continued their resurgence by taking down the Green Shuttlers’ top pair of Rey Nier Dalimo-Os and AJ Lorenz Jurada, 11–21, 21–16, 21–16.
“Ginawa lang talaga namin ‘yung best namin, every game namin. Binuhos talaga namin para makapag-perform nang maayos. Ayon nagbunga rin ‘yung tinatawag natin na ipakita mo lang best mo, results will follow,” said the third-year Espinoza.
“Nagpapasalamat kami kay Papa God kasi unang-una pa lang feel na feel na namin presence ni Papa God sa laro namin,” added the University of San Carlos product.
Rookie Clark Brillantes set the tone for UST, defeating Gift Linaban, 21–15, 21–14, in the opening singles match. However, last season’s Rookie of the Year, Lovic Javier, leveled the tie for DLSU with a dominant 21–11, 21–8 victory over Aaron Bedaña.
Ron Galve and Bien Miraflor then powered past Karl Contreras and Zaki Layno, 22–20, 21–15, in the first doubles match, maintaining their unbeaten record as a pair and giving Espinoza and Fulmentera the boost they needed to close out the tie.
Josh Cuarte averted a shutout for the Green Shuttlers, defeating Ivan Tuazon, 21–16, 21–15.
UST and DLSU will meet again on Sunday at 1 p.m. in a playoff for the last Final Four berth. The winner will face NU in Tuesday’s semifinals.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, NU and Ateneo de Manila University secured the top two spots with contrasting victories over Adamson University and the University of the Philippines, respectively.
The Blue Eagles finished the qualifying rounds in second place with a 4–1 win-loss record but had to survive the Fighting Maroons, 3–2, with reigning MVP Lyrden Laborte delivering the clincher.
The graduating senior fended off Ryan Borgador in 40 minutes, 21–10, 21–16, sending the defending champions into the semifinals with momentum.
Ateneo took a 2–0 lead after Zeth Quiambao and Lance Vargas defeated Shan Clar and Josh Dupet, respectively. Quiambao outlasted Clar in a 63-minute marathon, 15–21, 21–15, 21–16, while Vargas needed just 25 minutes to dispatch Dupet, 21–8, 21–8.
UP, however, fought back by sweeping the doubles matches to force a decider. MJ Amerodin and Kian Cruz outlasted Wijel Albo and Christopher Anglo, 21–14, 15–21, 21–15, before Arjay Lazareto and Ryan Borgador also prevailed over Rolan De Guzman, 19–21, 21–14, 21–13.
Despite the defeat, the Fighting Maroons held on to third place by winning the point-differential tiebreaker over the Golden Shuttlers, -57 to -183. UP and Ateneo will face off on Tuesday at 8 a.m.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs completed a perfect 5–0 sweep of the elimination round, capping their campaign with a 5–0 rout of the Soaring Falcons.
John Vincent Lanuza and MJ Perez sealed the victory by defeating Carl Cantalejo and Kyrik Roldan, 21–17, 21–12.
Clarence Villaflor and Lanz Zafra also maintained their unbeaten records, defeating John Vincent Saturinas and Steveric Muring, respectively. Villaflor dominated Saturinas, 21–5, 21–15, before Zafra followed suit with a 21–11, 21–11 victory.
Gam and Ruedas then powered past John Paul Badang and Eur Cabanducos, 21–13, 21–17, while Benjamin Dictado completed the sweep, 21–17, 21–14, over Justine Albalate.
