NU, Ateneo post 2nd wins in UAAP badminton tourney

Pre-season favorites National University and Ateneo posted their second straight wins by disposing their respective rivals Sunday in the ongoing 7th UAAP badminton tournament at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall. The Bulldogs outclassed Far Eastern University Tamaraws, 4-1 while the Blue Eagles blanked University of the East Red Warriors, 5-0. In other results, defending men's champion University of Santo Tomas bounced back from their opening day loss to NU as they thwarted University of the Philippines, 3-2 while De La Salle University swept Adamson, 5-0. Aries de los Santos started the rampage for the Bulldogs by beating Wilfredo Amoroso, 22-20, 22-20 in the first singles followed by Andrei Babad who survived the hardfighting Kevin Dalisay, 21-17, 15-21, 21-11in the second singles. National team mainstays Philip Jofer Escueta and Sonny Montilla formally sealed the win for NU as they trounced Ian Bautista and Randolph Balatbat, 21-19, 21-15 in the first doubles before Babad and Delos Santos crushed Amoroso and Dalisay, 21-17, 21-10 in the last doubles. For Ateneo, current RP no.1 player Toby Gadi beat Ramon Guerrero, 21-9, 21-7, while Paolo Sunga escaped with a 21-19, 22-20 win against Don Johnson Agustin, 21-19, 22-20 which gave the Blue Eagles an early 2-0 lead. Pawi and Justin Natividad then prevailed over Don Johnson and Darell Jay Agustin, 21-17, 21-11 and the duo of Sunga and Gadi defeated Guerreo and partner Jose Luis Gomez, 21-4, 21-17 to manifest their domination of the Red Warriors before Pawi Natividad completed the sweep with a 21-15, 21-9 win over Daryl Soledad in the third singles. With the win, UST moved up to 1-1 win-loss slate in atied with the Green Archers, the Tamaraws and the Red Warriors while the Fighting Maroons and the Falcons remained winless after their first two outings. In the women’s division, it was a hot start for back-to-back title seeking FEU Lady Tamaraws as they clobbered UE, 4-1. Posting wins for FEU are Season 73 top rookie Kim Mayono against Rochelle Andres, 23-21, 14-21, 21-19, Jennifer Cayetano over Fatima Cruz, 16-21, 23-21, 21-17, and Klarissa Pascual opposite May Pamorada, 21-18, 21-18, in singles. The doubles pair of Mayono and Cayetano also prevailed against Cruz and Kimberly Gatpolintan in the second doubles, 21-17, 21-13. Andres and Pamorada the shutout win for the Lady Tamaraws after downing the duo of Pascual and Anna Alba, 21-16, 21-11 in the first doubles. Meanwhile, in other women’s ties, 2009 champion Lady Archers defeated the Tigresses, 4-1, the Lady Eagles beat the Lady Maroons, 4-1, and the Lady Falcons edged the Lady Bulldogs, 3-2. -- GMA News