La Salle, National U shuttlers stay at helm

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle and National U whipped their respective rivals to notch their third consecutive wins and remain in the lead in UAAP Season 77 men’s badminton at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall yesterday.

The Green Archers shut out the UE Warriors, 5-0, while the Bulldogs turned back the UST Tigers, 4-1.

In other results, defending champion Ateneo, with reigning MVP Patrick Natividad leading the way, fashioned out a 4-1 win over University of the Philippines to bounce back from last Sunday’s loss to De La Salle and stay in third place at 2-1.

Adamson University routed Far Eastern University, 5-0, to enter the win column.

John Kenneth Monterubio opened the tie with a 21-10, 21-15 victory over Arman Manlalangit in the singles, while Elijah Abdel Boac beat Benjamin Silva, 21-15, 21-12, in the second singles to give the Green Archers a 2-0 cushion.

Gerald Sibayan and Carlos Cayanan then defeated Manlalangit and John Cruz in the first doubles, 21-13, 21-13, before Prince Joshua Monterubio and his brother John Kenneth outlasted Ramon Guerrero and John Gomez, 17-21, 21-15, 21-19, in the second doubles.

Jericson Oba-ob gave La Salle the shutout win with a 21-19, 21-9 decision over McNeil Roldan in the third singles.

Ariel Magnaye, a 21-16, 21-14 winner over John Paul Yabut, Rosleenard Pedrosa, who beat PJ Pantig, 16-21, 21-19, 21-15, and former MVP Joper Escueta, who downed Lee Sabanal, 21-14, 21-13, provided singles victories for the Bulldogs.