SINCE LAST year’s disappointing third place finish, redemption is what the Blue Shuttlers have been gunning for—and what better way to achieve it than to defeat their fabled rivals, the De La Salle Green Archers in the penultimate challenge in their quest for the championship, on September 12 at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
Sporting a twice-to-beat advantage, the Blue Shuttlers wasted no time, eliminating their archrivals, 3-1.
The phenomenal Tobi Gadi once again kicked things off for the Blue Shuttlers—a strategy Coach Kenny Asuncion has employed throughout the season. Gadi ensured that the Katipunan-based squad drew first blood by taking the first match win.
In true dominating fashion, the behemoth Gadi took the first set, 21-14, over La Salle’s star player Ronel Estanislao. Estanislao tried to make a game out of it, rallying from a 17-10 deficit to knot the score at 20-apiece, but Gadi concluded the match with a masterful lob that dropped with pin-point accuracy at Estanislao’s backline. Gadi let out a monster scream of satisfaction, Ateneo were up 1-0.
Rookie-sensation Pawee Natividad steamrolled over his opponent, Nej Martinez, 21-12, 21-13—the last point came in the form of an electrifying smash while his opponent lay on the ground—to give the Blue Shuttlers a commanding, 2-0, lead.
Team captain Paolo Sunga and Justine Natividad led 14-7 in the opening set against the tandem of Estanislao and JC Clarito, before collapsing in a nail-biter, 19-21. The Blue Shuttlers’ struggles carried on the next set as they succumbed to the Green Archers and failed to seal the deal for team Ateneo, 18-21.
Trying to evade a deciding fifth match, Gadi and P. Natividad took over and came out with all guns ablaze against Martinez and Bryan Chan, 21-12, 21-16, to oust the Green Archers and move on to the Finals.
The Blue Shuttlers will face defending champions, UST Growling Tigers in the Finals. The España-based squad almost lost to the NU Bulldogs before UST’s Tantan Kapunan managed to escape the fifth match of the day with a, 22-20, victory after a controversial call went against NU. The Growling Tigers slipped by with a narrow 3-2, victory.
As they face the Growling Tigers in the finals—the only team who eliminated them in last year’s semis, and gave them the only loss they have this season—the case of redemption has only intensified for the Blue Shuttlers. But for the Blue Shuttlers, redemption is only a win away.
The culmination of the UAAP season 73 Badminton Tournament will take place on September 26 (Sunday), 9 am at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
Box Scores
Toby Gadi (ADMU) def. Ronel Estanislao (DLSU)
21-14, 22-20
Patrick Natividad (ADMU) def. Nej Martinez (DLSU)
21-12. 21-13
Ronel Estanislao & JC Clarito (DLSU) def. Paolo Sunga & Justin Natividad (ADMU)
21-19, 21-18
Toby Gadi & Patrick Natividad (ADMU) def. JC Clarito & Bryan Chan (DLSU)
21-12, 21-16
