Lanz Zafra set the tone of the day, powering National University to another 5–0 sweep, this time over University of the Philippines, for its second straight win in the UAAP Season 89 Men’s Badminton Team Event on Sunday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
The Bulldogs achieved two goals with the victory: getting back at the same team that dethroned them last season and completing a sweep of their opening weekend to claim a share of the lead.
The team captain was solid throughout his 21–9, 21–10 sweep of debuting Ryan Borgador in 31 minutes, putting NU on the board and immediately sending a message to UP.
“Sobrang motivated and confident kami this season kasi nga nadagdag sila Clarence, sila Dosano,” said Zafra. “One game at a time lang, pero sabi ko sa kanila hangga’t kaya nating i-5–0 lahat, gawin natin.
“Happy ako sa performance namin today and sa kahapon, so sana magtuloy-tuloy. Tomorrow, rest day and light training, tapos balik uli sa Tuesday.”
Clarence Villaflor doubled NU’s advantage with a similar straight-game victory over Josh Dupet, 21–8, 21–10, before John Vincent Lanuza and MJ Perez turned back Arjay Lazareto and Ryan Mendoza in a thrilling second game, 21–18, 30–28, to seal the tie.
John Benedict Gam and Jacinth Paul Ruedas then made it 4–0 with a 21–14, 21–12 win over Enzo Rivera and Yuan Abinales.
Rookie Ivan Dosano completed the sweep by outlasting Shan Clar, 16–21, 24–22, 24–22, in 69 minutes of back-and-forth action.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Ateneo de Manila University joined NU at the top of the standings after a 4–1 victory over the University of Santo Tomas.
Robby Ramos once again delivered for the defending champions, teaming up with rookie Rolan De Guzman to score a hard-fought 21–19, 26–24, 21–19 victory over John Vincent Espinoza and Manuel Fulmentera in the second doubles match.
Lyrden Laborte and Lance Vargas gave Ateneo a 2–0 advantage with comfortable wins over Aaron Bedaña and Clark Brillantes, respectively.
Laborte needed just 30 minutes to take down Bedaña, 21–11, 21–17, while Vargas also dispatched Brillantes in half an hour, 21–12, 21–10.
Zeth Quiambao put the finishing touches on Ateneo’s second straight win with a 21–11, 21–6 victory over Juan Miguel Sison.
UST’s Ron Galve and Bien Miraflor averted the sweep, notching their second straight win as a pair with a 20–22, 21–18, 21–13 victory over Wijel Albo and Christopher Anglo in the first doubles match.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
De La Salle University moved into a share of third place with a 4–1 victory over Adamson University, improving to an even 1–1 record in a bounce-back performance after losing to NU previously.
Karl Contreras and Zaki Layno outlasted Prince Betaisar and Jasper Manlangit, 21–19, 21–19, in an action-packed 35-minute battle to secure the opening point for the Green Shuttlers.
John Vincent Saturinas put Adamson ahead with a 21–16, 21–19 victory over Joshua Cuarte, but that proved to be the Soaring Falcons’ final win of the tie.
Lovic Javier fended off Steveric Muring’s comeback attempt in the second game to claim a 21–14, 23–21 victory, before Ray Nier Dalimo-Os and AJ Lorenz Jurada gave DLSU the lead with a dominant 21–13, 21–14 win over John Paul Badang and Eur Cabanducos.
Gift Linaban completed the rout with a 21–16, 21–19 victory over Nathaniel Acedillo.
