UP downs La Salle, grabs solo lead in UAAP badminton

MANILA, Philippines – Reigning women's champion University of the Philippines turned back De La Salle, 3-2, to seize the solo lead Wednesday in the UAAP Season 78 badminton tournament.

Last year's top rookie Mary Ann Marañon needed three sets to beat Arianne Rivera, 15-21, 21-15, 21-11, in the first singles; Paola Bernardo subdued Mariya Anghela Sevilla, 21-16, 21-15, in the second singles; and the Lady Maroons clinched the tie after the first doubles tandem of reigning MVP Jessie Francisco and Eleonor Christine Inlayo prevailed over Alyssa Leonardo and Kristelle Salatan, 22-20, 21-19.

The Lady Archers, whose two-game winning streak was snapped, drew victories from Aries Montilla and Sevilla, who beat Marañon and Marina Caculitan, 21-10, 21-19, in the second doubles; and Nicole Albo, who topped Inlayo, 21-19, 17-21, 21-14, in the third singles.

UP remained unbeaten in three starts, while La Salle dropped to 2-1 alongside Ateneo, a 3-2 winner over Far Eastern University; and University of Santo Tomas, which drubbed National University, 4-1, in second place.

Cass Lim, Bianca Carlos and the doubles tandem of Geva de Vera and Janel Dihiansan provided victories for the Lady Eagles, who continued to rise from a season-opening loss to the Lady Archers.

The Tigresses banked on Steffie Aquino, Patricia Barredo and Arish Ann Macalino to bounce back from last Sunday's 0-5 loss to the Lady Maroons.

In the other tie, Adamson University barged into the win column with a 3-2 win over University of the East.

The Lady Falcons dropped in a tie with the Lady Tamaraws and the Lady Bulldogs at 1-2, while the Lady Warriors suffered their third consecutive loss.