With a new addition in the fold, the National University women’s badminton team has just gotten stronger.
National team stalwart and former FEU Lady Tamaraw Thea Pomar made noise in her UAAP return, as she and the rest of the Lady Bulldogs commenced their season with a rousing win over the University of Santo Tomas Golden Lady Shuttlers, 5-0, Thursday afternoon at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
The former FEU Lady Tamaraw announced her return in the league with a clinical dismantling Angelic Panotes in the first singles match at 21-8, 21-3. Pomar displayed overall court control, as UST were left wanting for points of attack throughout the match.
Jhiselle Capillo then followed up Pomar’s win with her own dominant sweep of Sugar Vizmonte in the next singles match. Vizmonte, who recovered from an ACL injury, showed some signs of life, but Capillo leaned on her tremendous improvement and length to take care of the former in two games as well, 21-15, 21–14.
Fifth-year Kezziah Cuilao and long-time partner Jhayvin Dizon made sure the win was in the bag, disposing off Evan Teope and Panotes at 21-11, 21-6. Overall, the Lady Bulldog pair was just overflowing with on-court chemistry that hits and smashes eventually followed.
Capillo and Pomar then swept their day’s assignments after combining for the second doubles win over Vizmonte and Pimentel, 21-5, 21-13. Mitzi Joy Pantoja then puled off the exact same scoreline to cruise past Pimentel in the last singles match.
The Lady Bulldogs (1-0) will try to extend their run as they take on the University of the East Lady Warriors (0-1) on Saturday, September 23, at 1pm. The Golden Lady Shuttlers (0-1) will lock claws with the Adamson University Lady Falcons (0-1) to try and get their first win on the same day.