Two more pairs crowned division champs

Janelle Pangilinan tries to return the shuttlecock during her and Jenine Savellano doubles match against Hannah Choi and Rowena Sison in the Tan Holdings Open 2014 last Saturday at the TSL Sports Complex. (Jon Perez)

The men’s pair of Patrick Fernandez and Leo Su ruled the doubles C division of the annual badminton tournament, while Cheng Saturno and Rowena Sison duplicated their feat in the women’s doubles B category.

Fernandez and Su enjoyed a twice-to-beat edge in the finals after going undefeated in three games. They faced the tandem of Hancheol Yu and Daniel Kim in the title match. The top-seeded duo completed their title run with a 13-21, 21-13, 21-11 triumph over Yu and Kim. Fernandez and Su earlier scored a 21-8, 23-21 decision over Yu and Kim in the semifinals, and the latter pair needed a 21-14, 21-15 victory against the father-son tandem of Taeho and Jun Kim to arrange a rematch with their tormentors in the finals.

Saturno and Sison were also the team to beat in the women’s doubles B division after sweeping their three matches in the elimination round. They had to grind out a 14-21, 21-14, 21-19 decision over the pair of Alma Ortega and Dianne Francisco to emerge as champions.

Ortega and Francisco earned the right of facing Saturno and Sison after scoring a 21-19, 21-18 win over Marylyn Montano and Lucelle Lampera.

Last Saturday, youngsters Mykki Caracut and Nicole Malasarte became the first champions of this year’s competition, overcoming the twice-to-beat advantage of Roxie Lazaro and Gigi Zapanta to rule the women’s doubles C.

Caracut and Malasarte scored a 21-10, 21-4 win to force a winner-take-all Game 2 and completed the title victory with a 21-7, 21-10 decision.

Both pairs played their first matches with Lazaro and Zapanta winning their first two games by default, including against Caracut and Malasarte, who also won via walkover after another no-show from Patricia Abanto and Jerralyn Castillo.

Meanwhile, seven finals matches will be played this Friday with Glenn Bluutjens and Young Son aiming to exploit their twice-to-beat edge against the rising pair of Jong Min and Deether Ortega in the men’s doubles A.

Bluutjens and Son swept their way to the finals, while Min and Ortega had to beat three other pairs after being relegated to the loser’s bracket following a 21-20, 9-21, 16-21 loss to the Andreau Galvez and Jerome Malasarte tandem.

Min and Ortega dispatched Ferdie Arago and Cris Hilario,21-10, 21-17, then followed it up with a tough 21-17, 18-21, 21-17 decision against Aries Cordero and Jerry Hibi. Min and Ortega went on to clinch the second finals berth after a masterful 21-6, 21-14 win over Jordan Pangilinan and Joel Ortega.

In other pairings, Son and Min teamed up in the men’s doubles B and will contest the division crown against Ezekiel Macario and Deether Ortega.

Youth players Janelle Pangilinan and Jenine Savellano stunned the top-seeded pair of Choi and Sison in the women’s doubles A division finals, 21-11, 21-19, to force a deciding Game 2.

Savellano is also in title contention for the mixed doubles A crown as she and Bluutjens are holding a twice-to-beat advantage over the brother-sister tandem of Jordan and Janelle Pangilinan in the finals.

Windy Fernandez and Cris Hilario will face Saturno and Jeff Riman in the mixed doubles B finals, while siblings Jerome and Nicole Malasarte will vie for the mixed doubles C crown against Baby Banadera and Patrick Fernandez.

Choi and Yu are the team to beat in the 40-up mixed doubles division finals and will take on the winner of the match between Edwin Montoya and Marylyn Montano and the husband-and wife tandem of Joel and Alma Ortega. (Jon Perez)