Green Shuttlers Enter Season 87 with a Fighting Spirit and Unbreakable Bond

Following a challenging season with just one win and four losses, the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Shuttlers are more driven than ever to secure a podium finish in the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87. With a new mindset and improved team chemistry, teams should watch out as they enter this upcoming season with the Green Shuttlers’ rackets ready to smash their way to success.

Strengthening For Battle

When entering a battle, you always come in prepared, and the Green Shuttlers have been training non-stop for the battle that awaits them. Talking about preparation, Joshua Morada, the current Green Shuttlers team captain, stated that the team has been very active in participating in various tournaments around the country as part of their preparation for the upcoming Season 87. “Ngayon, may mga sinalihan kaming tournaments like Philippine Open, FDG Cup, and meron pang mga Philippine-sanctioned tournaments kaming sinalihan, both men’s and women’s,” the captain shared.

Additionally, Morada described the kind of bond that the team has, and this particular bond on and off the badminton court has been the driving force behind the team’s chemistry and preparation. The captain shared, “Ngayon naman, as a team, we bond together. Kumbaga yung training namin ngayon is sobrang pinaghahandaan talaga namin yung UAAP this season kase every time na nagte-training, we motivate everyone. And outside training, meron kaming time na nagkakasama for lunch, for dinner, and minsan may ginagawa kaming activity together.”

Handling The Pressure

Being the senior member and team captain, Morada explained the importance of staying positive and keeping the team’s morale high in the face of pressure and setbacks the team might face, “Para sa’kin, may pressure siya. Pero, tine-take ko siya in a positive way kase ako yung pinakamatanda sa team and ako dapat yung unang magmo-motivate sa kanila or magsasabi sa kanila ng anything na kelangan nilang gawin. Dapat hindi ako yung mas ma-down as senior nila.”

Keep On Improving

Talking about last season, Morada highlighted the lessons that he learned and using it as motivation to improve and reach new heights as a badminton player and as team captain, “Patience pa and yung pagiging fighter ko last season and mga previous seasons din. Yun yung lagi kong dinadala every time na papasok yung season kase ang badminton is a team sport so kunware kahit isang panalo lang kami pero the rest is talo so kelangan parin talaga na everyone na mag step-up. Kelangan ko na ipakita sa kanila na magiging fighter ako and mabigay ko sa kanila yung vibe na mas magiging palaban pa sa court.”

With this “fighter” mindset, captain Morada feels like this year’s iteration of the Green Shuttlers can improve on their last year’s record and have a chance to enter the gold medal game, citing the unwavering dedication of each team member, as they fully commit to their roles in achieving the goals they have set.

“Yung nakikita ko ngayon sa team is oo, mas kaya nilang mas higitan pa, kase in terms of training and pagiging palaban nila every time na nasa tournament, nakikita ko na dedicated yung bawat isa na mabigay nila yung best nila sa training and sa dadating pang tournaments.”

Words From A Captain

In his message for the team, Morada wished the Green Shuttlers good luck and reminds the team to give it their best and to show the world what they have been preparing for: “Ibigay lang natin yung best natin every time na maglalaro and huwag tayo matakot na ipakita sa kanila kung ano yung pinaghihirapan natin.”

The captain also left a message for the aspiring badminton players out there: “Bigay niyo lang lagi best niyo every time na magte-training kayo. And learn something new, need niyo i-explore ang sports and enjoy.”

Come and support our very own DLSU Green Shuttlers as they battle it out on the badminton court against the National University (NU) Men’s Badminton Team starting this Saturday, October 12, 8AM, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) Badminton Hall.

The rest of their tournament schedule is as follows:

DLSU vs. Ateneo— October 13, 8:00 AM
DLSU vs. UP — October 20, 8:00 AM
DLSU vs. AdU — October 26, 8:00 AM
DLSU vs. UST— October 27, 8:00 AM