Photo: DLSU Sports | Diego Roa
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Shuttlers wrapped up their UAAP Season 88 campaign with a fourth-place finish after falling to the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 3-1, in the battle for bronze held earlier today, October 22, at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
Despite the heartbreak, the Green-and-White found a bright spot in standout freshman Lovic Javier, who was named Rookie of the Year, marking a proud moment for La Salle’s promising young squad.
DLSU managed to split the singles matches early in the tie. NU’s Lanz Zafra opened with a dominant win over James Capin, who struggled to gain rhythm in the face of Zafra’s aggressive play. However, Javier answered back with a composed and confident performance against NU’s Benjamin Dictado, securing a straight-sets victory that tied the series at one apiece.
Momentum appeared to swing in La Salle’s favor, but the Bulldogs took charge in the doubles matches. The tandem of Miguel Cuarte and Zaki Layno showed strong chemistry and early control before NU rallied to steal the first doubles match in two close sets. The duo of Joshua Morada and Yuan Tan then battled hard in the second doubles, but NU’s consistency and sharp defense sealed the 3-1 result.
While the Green Shuttlers fell short of a podium finish, Javier’s Rookie of the Year honor served as a silver lining and a testament to DLSU’s continued development. With a talented core and newfound experience, the team looks to regroup and aim higher in UAAP Season 89.
