UAAP badminton: Bulldogs, Maroons shuttlers near Final 4

Defending champion National University and University of the Philippines moved closer to clinching the first two Final Four slots in the men’s division after blanking their respective foes Saturday in UAAP Season 79 badminton.

The Bulldogs overpowered old nemesis Ateneo, 5-0, while the Fighting Maroons routed Adamson University, 5-0, as the tournament reached the halfway mark at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.

While extending its perfect run to 22 ties, NU kept its joint hold of the lead with UP at 4-0.

The Blue Eagles fell to 2-2, while the Falcons slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat.

In other ties, Far Eastern University (2-2) defeated University of the East (1-3), 4-1, while De La Salle (2-2) prevailed over University of Santo Tomas (1-3), 4-1.

The Bulldogs and the Maroons shoot for semifinals slots against the Red Warriors and the Tamaraws, respectively, in the resumption of ties starting at 8 a.m. Sunday.