Shirley’s makes move in Traders team tourney

Shirley’s Badminton Club dominated Taga Badminton Club in the final day of their matchup, scoring a masterful 14-1 decision last Sunday night in the second full week of the 2014 Traders Insurance Badminton Team Tournament at the TSL Sports Complex

Shirley’s has now collected 36 points, while giving up 24 markers to tie the Community Badminton Club for the second to third spots, just 9 behind three-time titlists Saipan Badminton Club’s 45-15 record.

Taga, which was running second in the early goings of the 8th edition of the annual team tournament, dropped to fourth at 32-58, while Golden Racquets completes the standings with its 31-59.

Three points are awarded to a team that wins a match in two games, while 2 points are given to the winning squad and one to its opponent if the match goes to three.

Shirley’s Badminton Club’s Anette Ta attempts to make a drop shot in her and Cris Hilario’s game against Taga Badminton’s Celso Agui and Cristy Villaflor in the 8th Traders Insurance Badminton team tournament last Sunday at the TSL Sports Complex. (Jon Perez)

Cris Hilario and Jeff Riman kicked things off for Shirley’s with a 21-15, 21-11 win over Edwin Montoya and Joel Ortega in the men’s doubles B division. Aries Cordero then teamed up with Patrick Fernandez in squeezing out a 21-19, 21-18 triumph over Ortega and Panapa Peteru in the men’s doubles BC class.

Cordero later joined Vilma Reyes in beating Montoya and Gigi Zapanta, 21-16, 21-20, in the mixed doubles BC.

Hilario and Anette Ta escaped with a 21-18, 16-21, 21-7 victory over Celso Agui and Cristy Villaflor in the mixed doubles BB. Agui and Villaflor, needing only one more point in the second game, had some anxious moments as they allowed Hilario and Ta to score 6 straight points to threaten at 20-16. The Taga pair forced a deciding third set when its opponents made an unforced error. However, Hilario and Ta won’t be denied of the win as they totally dominated Agui and Villaflor in the third.

Meanwhile, CBC would have earned solo second place and further breathe down SBC’s neck if not for a 6-9 loss to Golden Racquets in the final day of their doubles matches.

George Olanda and Vic Regis opened Golden Racquets’ campaign with a 21-19 21-16 win over Deether Edralin and Owen Ou in the men’s doubles B. Edralin then partnered with Jon Costales to bounce back with a 21-18, 21-12 decision against Olanda and Ronnie Tan.

Zeke Macario and Patricia Abantao earned another 3 points for CBC after beating the husband-and-wife tandem of Jojo and Merlie Savellano, 21-12, 21-19, in the mixed BC class. That proved to be CBC’s last win, as it dropped the mixed BB and men’s CC matches, giving Golden Racquets the needed 6 points to catch up with Taga.

Regis and Marylyn Montano bested Macario and Havika Farro, 21-12, 21-16, while Tan and Eydie Uy tripped Costales and Jeremi Montanejo, 21-13, 21-17.

Action continues this weekend with Shirley’s taking on Golden Racquets and CBC clashing with SBC on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, SBC and Taga, and CBC and Shirley’s will play the first of their two-day matchup. Matches on Friday will be in the men’s B, BC, A, and women’s B and A divisions, while on Saturday it will be the turn of men’s AB, C, and mixed BC, B and AB players.