NU streak reaches 54 in men's badminton

c/o UAAP

National University survived a game effort from the University of the Philippines to remain undefeated in the men's division of the UAAP Season 85 Badminton tournament on Saturday at the badminton courts of Centro Atletico in Quezon City.

It was Mark Anthony Velasco who carried the Bulldogs for their 54th straight tie victory, winning his two assignments as they remain undefeated at 3-0.

Velasco got NU on the board in the second singles matchup, defeating Kervin Llanes, 21-12 23-21. He then teamed up with Lanz Zafra in the second doubles matchup to secure the tie with a 21-19 21-15 triumph over Jelo Albo and Jason Vanzuela.

For Zafra, it was an immediate bounce back after dropping the first singles match against fellow national teammate Albo, 14-21 14-21 that put UP ahead early on.

Solomon Padiz Jr and Julius Villabrille would put NU at the cusp with a 21-12 21-16 result against Maroon co-captains Wileyto Yray and Charles Alcarpio in the first doubles.

Padiz, however, was forced into medical retirement in the third singles match due to cramps, giving the win to Enzo Rivera to make it a 3-2 result in the tie.

NU head coach Jaime Llanes shares afterwards, "Satisfied naman ako sa nilaro nila. Itong last singles lang, feeling ko kaya nag-cramps si Monch (Padiz) kasi dehydrated siya. Pero laro iyan eh, nangyayari talaga. Pero overall satisfied talaga ko kasi lahat sila nag-perform eh."

Joining NU atop the standings is Ateneo, after the Blue Eagles swept Adamson, 5-0.

Lynden Laborte and Arthur Salvado won their respective singles assignments, with Bryan Bernardo and Charles Bagasbas clinching the tie with a 21-14 21-14 win over CL Garcia and Harold Bonilla in the first doubles matchup.

The other tie of the day featured the University of Santo Tomas dispatching La Salle, 5-0.

Janzen Panisales and RJ Gavile capped off the impressive result with a 21-13 21-17 victory over Joshua Morada and Pete Abellana in 39 minutes, giving the Golden Shuttlers their first win of the season and keeping the Green Shuttlers winless.

Matches will resume on Sunday with both Ateneo and NU hoping to clinch finals tickets against separate opposition. The Blue Eagles could formalize the finals matchup against the Bulldogs with a win over UP, while DLSU serves as the latest threat to the immaculate streak to NU. Completing the ties is the duel between UST and Adamson, with the former hoping for consecutive wins and the latter aspiring to get their opening win of the season.

All matches to start at 8am.