Ateneo, NU, UP blank foes in UAAP men's badminton

MANILA – Ateneo de Manila University kicked off its title defense with a 5-0 blanking of Adamson University in the UAAP Season 87 badminton tournament at Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall in Manila on Saturday.

Skipper and Season 86 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Lyrden Laborte defeated Adamson's Kyrik Roldan, 21-10, 21-7, while Arthur Salvado Jr. prevailed over Nathan Acedillo, 21-17, 21-14, to give Ateneo a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five tie.

Laborte returned to the court in the first doubles match, teaming up with rookie Robbie Ramos to beat Noel Hernandez and Gabriel Gamoy, 21-18, 21-11.

Allen Penute and Charles Bagasbas outplayed Julious Fontanilla and Acedillo, 21-18, 21-17, in the second doubles, while last season's Rookie of the Year Lance Vargas wrapped up the tie with a 21-9, 21-8 victory over Jhon Dema-ano.

"I'm happy that we started the season with good wins, considering we're using a venue that we haven't used for quite a while. The players are adjusting well," Ateneo coach Kennie Asuncion, who is also the national program director, said.

"Again, with the same approach that every point is important. In every match, you always have to be on guard, you always have to be ready," he added.

National University also thrashed De La Salle University and University of the Philippines stamped its class over University of Santo Tomas, both ending in 5-0.

NU won with Lanz Zafra beating Jason Pajarillo, 21-5, 21-10; Mark Velasco whipping James Carl Capin, 21-13, 21-9; Season 85 MVP Solomon Padiz Jr. and Nestojan Tapales outplaying Yuan Tan and Miguel Cuarte, 21-17, 21-15; Enzo Rivera and rookie Mark Anthony Bernal clobbering Janzen Panisales and Ron Jacob Galve, 21-11, 21-13; James Villarante and Jeno Cariño overcoming Zaki Layno and Joshua Morada, 21-13, 21-16; and MJ Perez downing Joshua Fajilan, 21-18, 21-15.

NU and UP will clash at 8 a.m. Sunday, also at Rizal Memorial. (PNA)