MANILA: In a closely contested match at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall, National University (NU) secured a narrow 3-2 victory over the University of the Philippines (UP) in Season 87 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s badminton tournament on Sunday. The win allowed NU to share the tournament lead with the reigning champions, Ateneo de Manila University.
According to Philippines News Agency, the match’s pivotal moment came during the third singles game when MJ Perez of NU defeated Charles Alcarpio with scores of 21-17, 21-13. This victory marked NU’s second win in the tournament and was crucial in maintaining their top position alongside Ateneo, who earlier defeated De La Salle University with a decisive 5-0 score.
The tournament witnessed intense competition as NU and UP split the initial two singles matches. NU’s Lanz Zafra triumphed over UP rookie Shan Clar with scores of 21-15, 21-12. However, UP responded when Jelo Albo overcame NU’s Mark Velasco, 21-14, 21-18 in a
tightly fought match. The doubles matches were equally thrilling, with UP’s duo of Enzo Rivera and Mark Anthony Bernal narrowly defeating NU’s national players Solomon Padiz Jr. and James Villarante in a three-set game with scores of 20-22, 21-11, 23-21.
NU managed to level the overall score in the following doubles match, where Zafra and Nestojan Tapales convincingly outplayed UP’s Albo and Johann Abinales, 21-13, 21-11. This set the stage for Perez’s crucial victory in the third singles match.
NU coach Jaime Llanes expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance despite the challenges, noting the difficulties posed by a new venue but praising the team’s chemistry and resilience. Looking ahead, both NU and Ateneo aim to sustain their winning momentum in their upcoming matches against University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University, respectively. Meanwhile, UP is set to face De La Salle University on October 19, seeking their second win of the season.