Men’s Singles 1: Philip Joper Escueta(NU) def. Gerald Sibayan(DLSU)
NU 1-0 DLSU
The much anticipated match-up between two of the season’s strongest contenders opened to a 21-11 set victory by NU’s Escueta. Though the Escueta and Sibayan were neck-and-neck early in the game, Escueta would rally to take eight straight points and take a 17-10 lead. Sibayan would be unable to recover, as another tilt for Escueta would give him the game point. Sibayan would bounce back in the second set, relying on a monster tilt that gave him twelve straight points, eventually taking the set, 21-14. However, momentum would once again turn in favor of Escueta in the third set. Unable to find a way to score on the attack, Sibayan would have to give up the game point to his opponent.
Aggregate score: Escueta-56, Sibayan- 46
Total match time: 50 mins
Men’s Singles 2: Peter Gabriel Magnaye(NU) def. John Kenneth Monterubio(DLSU)
NU -2 0 -DLSU
La Salle’s Monterubio was quick to bounce back for the school from Taft, leaving Magnaye in the dust, 21-13 in the first set. A much fired up Magnaye would take to the field moments later, forcing his opponent to commit error after error while managing to score with his swats. Magnaye would eventually take his first game point, 21-6, and force another round. Though both shuttlers appeared to be fired up for the deciding game, it was Magnaye who would maintain composure and pull away, 21-15, putting NU at 2-0 in match points, after a grueling sixty-minute encounter.
Aggregate score: Magnaye-55, Monterubio- 42
Total match time: 60 mins
Men’s Doubles 1: Philip Joper Escueta and Peter Gabriel Magnaye(NU) def. Gerald Sibayan and Carlos Antoine Cayanan(DLSU)
NU 3-0 DLSU
Escueta and Magnaye would return to the field for NU, fresh from singles victories, while Siabayan would suit up for La Salle once more, partnered with Carlos Antoine Cayanan, the only fresh face on the court. The NU duo would come out with the victory in the first game, 21-14, relying on a late tilt by Escueta to leave their rivals in the dust. The La Salle shuttlers would continue to struggle in the second set, with Escueta and Magnaye taking a 13-5 lead. Only one more point would be awarded to La Salle, as Magnaye would rally to force his opponents to errors, while raking in points on the attack en route to the 21-6 blowout victory for the set, and securing the victory for the day for the NU shuttlers.
Aggregate score: Escueta and Magnaye- 42, Sibayan and Cayanan- 20
Total match time: 35 mins
Men’s Doubles 2: Alvin Morada and Rosleenard (NU)def. John Kenneth and Prince Joshua Monterubio(DLSU)
NU 4-0 DLSU
NU’s Morada and Pedrosa took to the field for the first time, while John Kenneth would return to the court and suit up once more for Ateneo, paired up with his brother Prince Joshua. The first set opened to an exchange of point between the two squads, However, Morada would win five straight points to give NU a 17-13 edge. The Monterubios would be unable to gain momentum, as Pedrosa would take four straight points after a point from the brothers to win the first set, 21-14. The second set opened to another back-and-forth contest. However, the La Salle duo would eventually lose steam, and a fired-up Morada would rally to score five of NU’s last six points to take a 21-17 game win and give NU another match point.
Aggregate score: Morasa and Pedrosa- 42, Monterubio and Monterubio- 31
Total match time: 25 mins
Men’s Singles 3: Rosleenard Pedrosa(NU) def. Elijah Abdel Boac(DLSU)
NU 5-0 DLSU
Pedrosa would return for NU in the final match of the bout, while Boac came in fresh from the stands for La Salle. The first set proved to be another tight affair, with neither shuttler pulling away from the other, after trading rallies for most of the set. Pedrosa would however gain momentum soon enough, holding on to a 21-18 victory in the set. Boac would bounce back in the first set, gaining a 14-10 lead. However, a tilt would give Pedrosa eight straight points, and while Boac would be able to rise to the occasion, it was the shuttler who would escape with the 21-17 game victory, giving NU the sweep for the day and solo lead in the standings.
Aggregate score: Pedrosa- 42, Boac- 35
Total match time: 30 mins
Total games won: NU-10
DLSU-2
