Who can stop the reigning champions’ run?
It took just a little more than two hours for defending UAAP titlists National University Bulldogs to take their fifth straight win as they made a clean sweep of University of the East Red Warriors in 10 games, en route to another 5-0 sweep, Sunday morning at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
Even some tweaks in the lineup for the Bulldogs had no effect in overall result.
Last year’s Rookie of the Year Keeyan Gabuelo took the court for the first single match and finished off Angelo David, 21-9, 21-14. The sophomore was too much to handle for the lanky Warrior as he scoured for points, particularly, in the first game. The UE second-year player had took some points in the second game, but most of it came from opponent’s unforced errors.
Alvin Morada doubled NU’s lead after winning the second singles match. Despite getting a stiff resistance from Arman Joseph Manlalangit, the former ROY ended the long rallies while pouncing on his opponent’s miscues to get the win in two 21-10 games.
Alem Palmares and debuting Jervin Carlos paid coach Jaime Llanes’ trust and clinched the tie – their fifth of the season and their 23rd straight since Season 77 – after getting the first doubles match. The young NU duo finished the match in 15 minutes after taking care of David and Clarence Camacho, 21-10, 21-16.
Mike Minuluan and Morada then took the second doubles match in straight sets as well, 21-8, 21-13, over Manlalangit and Kenneth Cruz. Ros Pedrosa then finished the sweep with a swift 21-12, 21-6 win against Andre Donesa.
With the win, National U is through to yet another postseason appearance.
The reigning champions (5-0) will take on fellow undefeated squad University of the Philippines (5-0) Fighting Maroons on Wednesday, September 28. UE (1-4) will battle the De La Salle Green Shuttlers (2-3) on the same date. Both ties commence at 9am.
