Ateneo, National U shuttlers rout foes

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Ateneo and last year’s runner-up National U stormed to their second straight victories over separate rivals to keep the lead in the UAAP Season 75 men’s badminton tourney at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall yesterday.

The Blue Shuttlers clipped University of Santo Tomas, 4-1, while the Bulldogs clobbered University of the Philippines, 5-0.

Toby Gadi, Justin Natividad and Patrick Natividad provided victories in singles play for Ateneo while the Natividads fashioned out a straight set win in the first doubles.

Gadi, the reigning MVP, downed Benjude Cajefe, 21-12, 25-14, while Justin Natividad defeated Rjay Ormilla, 21-12, 17-21, 21-15, and Patrick Natividad turned back Salvador Kapunan, 21-12, 21-15.

The Natividads scored a 21-14, 21-18 triumph over Ormilla and Kapunan.

Cajefe and Paul John Pantig averted a shutout loss for the Growling Tigers by scoring a 21-10, 21-19 decision of Gadi and rookie Mico Mallilin.

Bulldogs standouts Andrei Babad, Joper Escueta and Emmanuel Garcia won in the singles matches to set the tone for NU’s lopsided win.

Babad waylaid Ethan Joshua Malelang, 21-15, 21-18, Escueta whipped Lorenzo Miguel Leonardo, 21-8, 21-10, and Garcia nipped Charlo Tengco, 23-21, 14-21, 27-25.

In doubles, Babad and Escueta outplayed Malelang and Roberto Pineda, 21-11, 21-11, while Oba-ob and Aries Delos Santos pummeled Tengco and Jon Masongsong, 21-13, 21-9.

In other men’s ties, La Salle and Far Eastern blanked University of the East and Adamson, respectively.

The Green Archers, Tamaraws, Tigers and Fighting Maroons slipped to 1-1 while the Red Warriors and the Falcons fell to 0-2.