By: Carl Argarin
Photo from Leo Orsolino's Facebook account.
After an excellent performance last season, the Letran Shuttlers failed to live up to expectations as the men’s team finished with a four and five record while the women’s squad salvaged two wins and six losses in the NCAA Season 94 badminton tournament held at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The men’s team was able to reach the finals last season, and were looking to either win it all in Season 94, or at the very least repeat what they have accomplished in the previous year. However, neither of which was fulfilled as they failed to reach the final four.
Team captain Melvin Sarao saw the team’s lack of training due to the completion school requirements as the sole reason for the Shuttlers’ downfall.
“Ginawa naman namin lahat pero we fell short,” said the Industrial Engineering major.
“We did our best pero kulang parin talaga. Nawala kami sa focus talaga. Halos lahat ng players namin pati sa womens either graduating or may paper na kailangan ma-accomplish sabay long test and exam period pa nung season namin,” he explained.
Sarao also admitted that the team decided to put their studies ahead, as they had a hard time balancing both trainings and their classes which became a factor in their failed campaign this season.
“Siyempre kailangan namin unahin yung pag-aaral kasi hindi rin naman kami makakapaglaro kung ‘di maganda ang grades namin,” Sarao bared.
Meanwhile, women’s team captain Fio Emorecha echoed Sarao’s sentiments, saying: “Majority sa womens mga fourth year na, most of our subjects this semester puro major na plus conflict pa sa training schedule namin,”
However, both Sarao and Emorecha believes that these hindrances are not an excuse for their losses.
“Siguro hindi lang talaga para sa amin and yun nga ang daming factors to consider pero di siya pwedeng excuse sa pagkatalo namin,” said Sarao.
The men’s team were able to take down Mapua University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, Jose Rizal University, and University of Perpetual Help while the women’s squad triumphed over EAC and Perpetual.