National University captain Lanz Zafra ground out a 21-14, 15-21, 21-14 quarterfinal victory over Ateneo de Manila University’s Zeth Quiambao on Saturday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City, sending the Bulldogs into the semifinals of the UAAP Season 89 men’s badminton individual event, the Philippine News Agency reported. The match lasted 76 minutes.
Zafra, a two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player, said afterward that he treated the match as a bonus in what he expects to be his final playing year. “I just kept in mind that this is my final playing year. I’m fortunate to still be able to compete in an individual event. So, I’m just making the most of it, it’s for NU and I hope I can contribute more points toward the overall championship,” he said.
Clar awaits Zafra on Nov. 2
Zafra will face University of the Philippines’ Shan Clar in the semifinal on Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. Clar, the Season 87 Rookie of the Year, reached the semis by defeating Adamson University rookie Steveric Muring 21-17, 21-16.
NU's Zafra secures semis berth in UAAP men's badminton MANILA – National University (NU) skipper Lanz Zafra pulled off a 21-14, 15-21, 21-14 victory over Ateneo de Manila University's Zeth Quiambao in the quarterfinal round of the UAAP Season 89 badminton individual event at… pic.twitter.com/HtwPNkZs53
Villaflor keeps NU’s hopes alive
Zafra was not NU’s only semifinalist in the singles. Teammate Clarence Villaflor beat De La Salle University’s Lovic Javier, the Season 88 Rookie of the Year, 21-13, 21-7. Villaflor will meet Ateneo captain Lance Vargas, who rallied past Adamson’s John Vincent Saturinas 21-13, 7-21, 21-14.
NU pairs split in men’s doubles semis
In the men’s doubles, the semifinal lineup is set. La Salle’s Karl Contreras and Gift Linaban upset NU’s MJ Perez and Jacinth Paul Ruedas 21-14, 16-21, 23-21, and will face Ateneo’s Robby Ramos and Lyrden Laborte, who swept Adamson’s Prince Betaisar and Jasper Manlangit 21-7, 21-13. On the other side of the bracket, UP’s Arjay Lazareto and Ryan Mendoza defeated Adamson’s John Paul Badang and Eur Cabanducos 21-16, 21-14 to set up a semifinal against NU’s Ben Dictado and John Benedict Gam, who beat Ateneo’s Wijel Albo and Rolan De Guzman 21-15, 21-12.
The semifinals are scheduled for Nov. 2, with Zafra’s match against Clar set for 1 p.m.
Keep reading
