UNDEFEATED. National University’s Marc Joel Clarence Perez hits a return during their match against University of Santo Tomas in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men's badminton tournament at Centro Atletico Badminton Center in Quezon City on Saturday (Nov. 4, 2023). The Bulldogs won, 3-2, to reach the semifinal round and stretch their unbeaten streak to 59 matches. (UAAP photo)
MANILA – Defending champion National University (NU) and University of the Philippines (UP) scored contrasting victories to claim the first two semifinal berths in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 men's badminton tournament at Centro Atletico Badminton Center in Cubao, Quezon City on Saturday.
Sporting identical 3-0 records, the Bulldogs and the Fighting Maroons will dispute the top spot at 8 a.m. on Sunday.
NU extended the league’s longest win streak at 59 games after surviving University of Santo Tomas (UST), 3-2, capped by the 21-13, 21-10 domination of James Villarante and MJ Perez over Kyle Basilio and Munir Bartolome in the second doubles match.
Solomon Padiz Jr. and Julius Villabrille, the country's No. 2 doubles team, gave NU a 2-1 lead after pulling off a 21-17, 21-17 win over Janzen Jeon Panisales and John Dizon in the first doubles match.
UST's Sean Dela Cruz downed Miko Mosarbas, 18-21, 21-16, 21-18, in the last singles match.
Mark Velasco, the No. 2 singles player in the latest Philippine Badminton Association rankings, won the opening singles over Basilio, 21-10, 20-22, 21-15.
UST tied at 1-1 when Lennox Cuilao beat Perez, 17-21, 21-11, 21-15, in the second singles match.
"We started slow because the first singles match started slowly. The first match is important because it affects the entire team. I just told them we need to prepare and start better against UP tomorrow (Sunday)," NU head coach Jaime Llanes said.
In contrast, UP had no problem disposing of De La Salle University, 5-0.
Kervin Llanes beat Jason Pajarillo, 21-12, 21-18, and Jelo Albo outclassed James Estrada, 21-10, 21-8, in the first two singles matches.
In the doubles, Michael Clemente and Johann Abinales prevailed over Joshua Morada and Jeff Cruz, 21-16, 21-16; and Albo and Jason Vanzuela outplayed Yuan Tan and Yugin Tan, 21-17, 21-18.
JM Estrada wrapped up the tie with a 21-16, 21-13 win over James Capin.
"Ang maganda lang is 'yung players nakapag-adjust na after the first week. ‘Yung laban against NU bukas will boil down dun sa fielding ng players. Sana tama 'yung maging basa namin sa lineups bukas (The only good thing is that the players have adjusted after the first week. The match against NU tomorrow will boil down to the fielding of the players. I hope we get it right regarding the lineups tomorrow)," UP coach Melvin Llanes said.
Ateneo de Manila University also swept Adamson University, 5-0, for its second win in three outings.
Ateneo will gun for a semifinal slot against UST while Adamson and De La Salle will square off in the other match, all scheduled on Sunday. (PNA)
