UAAP badminton: NU opens title retention bid with Ateneo rout

National University is off to a blistering start in its bid for a fourth straight title, drubbing Ateneo 4-1 in the UAAP Season 81 men’s badminton tournament Thursday at Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.

MVPs Alvin Morada and Ross Lee Pedrosa led the Bulldogs in their unbeaten run of 36 ties.

Season 80 MVP Morada paired up with Alem Pelmares and trumped Remo and Keoni Asuncion, 21-17, 27-25, in the first doubles.

Pedrosa, who was the Season 79 MVP, returned to action after missing the previous season with a complete rout of Fides Bagasbas 21-7, 21-15, in the second singles.

Mike Minuluan dropped Carlo Remo, 21-14, 21-15, in the opening singles match.

Dawn Cuyno then paired with Minuluan to sweep Sean Chan and Sito Fernandez, 21-11, 21-13, in the second doubles match.

In the other ties, De La Salle humbled Univesity of the East, 5-0, to take the early lead in the ladder while Adamson University barely survived University of Santo Tomas, 3-2.

Andrew Pineda lead the Green Shuttlers in following up their 4-1 win over the Tiger Shuttlers, 4-1, in the opening day of the tournament.

The Falcons and Eagles are at 1-1 in the team standings while the Red Warriors and Tiger Shuttlers are both at 0-2.