The UP Men’s Badminton Varsity Team fought toe-to-toe against the feisty UST Golden Shuttlers, with the final singles match ultimately deciding the winner of the team tie. Backed by a spirited roster eager to prove itself, the Fighting Maroons showed grit and composure to secure a hard-fought victory.
Photo from: The UAAP
In the opening singles match, team captain Shan Clar proved reliable, dominating UST’s Ivan Tuazon in straight sets, 21-11, 21-12. However, UST leveled the tie at 1-all after debutant JM Amerodin fell to Clark Brillantes in a tightly contested match, 19-21, 15-21.
The doubles pair of Arjay Lazareto and Ryan Mendoza, who clinched UP’s finals berth last season, looked to restore the Fighting Maroons’ lead but fell short against Galve and Miraflor, 18-21, 19-21. Despite the loss, the Maroons refused to go down without a fight. With UST at match point late in the second set, Mendoza strung together consecutive points to keep UP in contention, but the deficit proved too much to overcome.
The next doubles pair of Abinales and Rivera made sure the setback did not linger, outlasting UST’s Espinoza and Fulmentera in a thrilling three-set encounter, 21-12, 18-21, 21-13, to tie the team match once more and set up a winner-takes-all singles showdown.
With the tie hanging in the balance, third-year shuttler and co-captain Ethan Josh Dupet took on the decisive match. Displaying composure, smart shot selection, and patience on court, Dupet delivered a commanding straight-sets victory over Juan Sison, 21-16, 21-12, to seal the Fighting Maroons’ win.
When asked how he managed the pressure of carrying the deciding match, Dupet shared that he chose to embrace rather than shy away from the moment.
“Tinatak ko lang sa isip ko kanina is pressure is a privilege kasi pag walang pressure yung game, parang what do you play for? Dapat nilolook forward mo talaga siya,” he said.
For Dupet, handling the pressure also came down to preparation and readiness.
“I think it’s a matter of being ready lang din talaga,” he added.
Season 87 rookie, Dupet now steps into a more prominent role as one of UP’s co-captains. After not making the competition lineup last season, he returns with an opportunity to contribute more directly to the team’s campaign. When asked how he had prepared to take on the responsibility of leading the squad, he pointed to the importance of confidence and trust.
“Being a co-captain, siguro tiwala sa sarili and teammates,” he said.
Beyond the personal milestone, Dupet believes the hard-fought victory can help build momentum for the rest of the team’s campaign. Recognizing the collective effort behind the result, he emphasized the importance of carrying that confidence into their succeeding matches.
“I think I really played well naman kanina, my teammates, and coaches as well. So, I think madadala rin nila yun sa next game,” he shared.
For Dupet, the team’s growth extends beyond its performance on court. He has seen a stronger bond develop among the players as they prepare to navigate a season of transition.
“As a co-captain, nakita ko na mas naging close talaga kami lahat compared to last year. And kahit na we’re a rebuilding team, and kahit may losses kami kanina, I think makakabawi naman kami kasi ayun, nagprepare rin talaga kami for this season,” he said.
That preparation has extended beyond the team’s collective training sessions. Dupet also gained valuable competitive experience by playing in the Saudi Badminton Federation league, complementing the Fighting Maroons’ multiple preparations ahead of UAAP Season 89.
What may appear to be a scrappy opening victory is, in many ways, a glimpse of a new era for the UP Men’s Badminton Varsity Team. With key players from previous campaigns no longer in the lineup, the Fighting Maroons face the challenge of rebuilding without losing sight of the standards set by their predecessors.
The UAAP’s revised team-tie format, which no longer allows a player to compete in both singles and doubles in the same match, has also reshaped the demands on each team’s lineup. For UP, the change creates greater opportunities for returning players and newcomers to take on larger responsibilities and prove their worth.
Against UST, those opportunities translated into a team effort that required contributions across both singles and doubles before Dupet delivered the decisive point. The victory may not have come easily, but it offered an early indication that the Fighting Maroons have the personnel, preparation, and collective resolve to meet the challenges of a rebuilding season.
A new era has begun in Diliman, and the Fighting Maroons are ready to make their own mark.
KFC & Jiang Nan Hotpot
