UST shuttlers keep UAAP title

MANILA, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas turned back Ateneo, 3-2, to retain the men’s title yesterday in the UAAP Season 73 badminton tournament at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.

MVP Ariel Magnaye clawed back from one-set down to beat Paolo Sunga in the deciding singles match, 17-21, 21-16, 21-17, and hand the Tigers their second straight men’s diadem and fourth overall.

“We didn’t really expect to win this championship because Ateneo is really strong,” said UST head coach Noli Cajefe, citing the Eagles’ roster bannered by former RP No. 1 Antonino Gadi, whose partnership with Patrick Natividad is also as formidable on the national level.

“Fortunately, RJ Ornilla stepped up and his win in the second singles gave us the chance,” he added.

Gadi gave AdMU a 1-0 cushion after crushing UST’s Salvador Kapunan, 21-9, 21-14, in the first singles. But Ornilla kept the Tigers’ bid alive with a 21-18, 21-15 victory over Natividad.

Magnaye and Benjude Cajefe then put UST on the brink of victory with a 21-18, 21-16 disposal of Ateneo’s Sunga and Justin Natividad.

Gadi and Patrick Natividad, though, stamped their class on Kapunan and Ornilla in the second singles, 21-10, 22-20, to force the deciding singles between UST’s Magnaye and AdMU’s Sunga.

In the distaff side, third seed Far Eastern U leaned on MVP and Most Improved Player Rochelle Reyes and Rookie of the Year Kim Mayono in dethroning No. 1 La Salle, 3-2.

Mayono delivered the crown for FEU with a 9-21, 21-4, 21-12 win over DLSU’s Danica Bolos in the deciding singles. Mayono earlier teamed up with Reyes in scoring a 17-21, 21-11, 21-12 triumph over Lady Archers Bernice Arsenio and Bolos.

Reyes accounted for the other won match for the Lady Tams, a 21-13, 21-14 verdict over Geli Ramos in the first singles.

It was the first women’s title since 2008 and third overall for FEU, which had to beat No. 2 University of the East twice before reaching the finals.

Meanwhile, National U outduelled DLSU, 3-1, to take third place honors in the men’s division while University of the East turned back UST, 3-2, for second runner-up in the women’s play.