Two pairs still unbeaten in IT&E badminton tourney

The tandems of Macoi Aguda/Saul Gargallo and Mario Diola/Paul Navarro are assured of playoff slots in the 2009 IT&E Badminton Doubles Tournament as they remained undefeated after three weeks of competition at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Aguda and Gargallo are unbeaten in seven games to take the solo top spot in the men’s A division, while Diola and Navarro hold a perfect 8-0 slate to keep the lead in the men’s B division.

The top four teams in the men’s A and B division and women’s B will advance to the playoffs this weekend, while only the top two finishers in the men’s and women’s C divisions will move to the next round. Final games in the preliminary round will be played this Friday and Saturday, while title matches are set for Sunday.

Aguda and Gargallo prevailed twice over three pairs and will be looking for a sweep this weekend when they play their last game in the elimination round against the tandem of Lito Mendoza and Joseph Santos.

Santos and Mendoza are currently in second place in the men’s A with their 3-3 record, followed by the duos of Hapi Gabriel/Robert Reyes (3-4), Edwin Montoya/Gary Bandoja (2-5), and Eric Pena/Jerry Hibi (1-4).

In the men’s B division, Diola and Navarro are a win away from a sweep with the duo set to face Emil De Belen and Rommel Villavisa in the last game.

There is a tie for second place in the men’s B division with the pairs of Daniel Macario/Jorge Olanda and Jojo Savellano/Noli Santos having identical 6-2 slates. In third place are Ariel Mariano and June Pineda (5-3), followed by Edwin Maratas/Alfred Acosta (4-2), De Belen/Villavisa (2-5), Roger Vales/Efren Cacdac (2-6), Rommel Catalma/Obet Aguilar 91-6), and Aries Cordero/Keno Pablo (1-8).

Two teams are in a deadlock for the lead in the women’s B division with Cheng Saturno/Marlynn Montano and Cristy Villaflor/Ingrid Sanchez holding similar 6-1 slates.

Anna Rose Omori and Malou Malasarte are in solo second with a 4-2 record, followed by Marlene Peraja/Emily Vargas (3-4), Shirley Kim/Angelie Ito (3-4), Lani Bartolome/Lucelle Lampera (2-5), Anna Alvarez/Juneh Padua (1-4), and Lea Estinopo/Rose Lazaro (1-5).

In the men’s C division, Puy Macario and Cris Hilario are on top with their 3-1 record, Rodwealth Espana and James Digno are in second with a 3-2 slate, while Frank Villagomez and Ric Brien are in third with a 2-1 mark. Ezekiel Macario and Roding Domingo are still winless in five games.

The pair of Irene Santiago and Annette Quiambao is leading the women’s C division with its 5-1 record. Hazel Dela Santa and Dorie Pineda hold a 5-2 record for second, while Jenine Savellano and Ruby Gozon are in third with their 3-3 slate. The duos of Elna Curate/Jasmin Cordova and Malou Mendoza/Malou Guzman have 2-4 and 1-6 records, respectively.