UST smashes Blue Shuttlers

In seniors badminton finals, the Ateneo Blue Shuttlers end their UAAP Season 73 campaign as runners-up.

Last year, the Blue Shuttlers swept the elimination round and dominated the competition. But in the semi-finals, the number one team suffered their first loss in the hands of the fourth-seeded team UST, 1-4.

Ateneo suffered yet another crucial loss in the hands of the UST shuttlers, who smashed their way to a back-to-back championship. Ateneo won two games in the best of five match.

Sophomore Toby Gadi won the opening singles game to prop up Ateneo for an upset. He pummeled his opponent with a 21-9, 21-14 win.

But Ateneo went down 1-2 as UST took the second singles game and the first doubles match of the finals.

Gadi worked with Patrick Natividad to give Ateneo a fighting chance as they pulled out a 21-10, 22-20 win in the second doubles game.

With Ateneo and UST tied 2-2, Paolo Sunga played the tie-breaker. His 21-17 win in the first set got the Ateneo team hopeful. But UST’s Magnaye changed his game and took the second and third sets to give UST the title.

Ateneo 2, UST 3

GAME 1(Singles)
Toby Gadi vs. Kapunan
21-9, 21-14

GAME 2 (Singles)
Patrick Natividad vs. Ormilla
18-21, 15-21

GAME 3 (Doubles)
Paolo Sunga & Justin Natividad vs. Magnaye & Cajefe
18-21, 16-21

GAME 4 (Doubles)
Toby Gadi & Patrick Natividad vs. Ormilla & Kapunan
21-10, 22-20

GAME 5 (Singles)
Paolo Sunga vs. Magnaye
21-17, 16-21, 17-21