Following up on their men’s team’s conquest, the National University Lady Bulldogs gave new head coach Jaime Llanes a double victory as they routed Adamson University, 4-1, to open its UAAP Season 79 campaign Saturday evening at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
Jiselle Capillo opened the day for the Sampaloc-based shuttlers with a straight-set win over fifth-year Lady Falcon Christine Garin in the first singles match. The first game was a tight affair, but Capillo’s control of rallies in the latter part of the frame set her up for the win at 21-18. The Lady Bulldog then used this momentum to cruise in the following game, 21-11.
Second-year Marinel Diansay then doubled NU’s advantage as she took the second singles match against another long-time Adamson stalwart Mikaela Aquino.
Aquino actually dominated the first game and reached game point first but the sophomore leveled the game and eventually won it 22-20 with a display of smart plays. Diansay used this tight win to clinch another close one in the second to get the match, 21-17.
NU mainstays Jhayvin Dizon and Kezziah Culiao wasted no time and took the first doubles in identical 21-10 games over Garin and Margarita Villacorta. The Lady Bulldogs used scoring runs after the intervals in both frames of the match to eventually secure the tie for their team.
The singles winners Capillo and Diansay took the second doubles match against Clydel Pada and Aquino, 21-17, 21-15, before Adamson’s Clydel Pada prevented a shutout, taking her match against Mitzi Pantoja.
