Cruise control in opener of IT&E tourney

Five pairs coasted past their respective foes in the opening day of the 2014 IT&E Mixed Doubles and Singles Badminton Tournament last Friday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

In the mixed doubles B, Vic Regis and Cheng Saturno walloped Roger Vales and Heo In Souk, 21-2, 21-18, while Eydie Uy and Merlie Savellano also took only two sets to beat the mother-and-son tandem of Gigi and Raphael Zapanta, 21-17, 21-15, in the mixed doubles C.
In another mixed doubles C game, Patrick and Vilma Fernandez triumphed in their debut after outclassing Tae Ho Kim and Emily Vargas, 21-12, 21-7.

In the two mixed doubles A games in the opener, siblings Jordan and Janelle Pangilinan drew first blood after sweeping Joel Ortega and Loyda Ito. The Pangilinans notched a 21-12 win in the opening game and picked up where they left off, bagging a 21-10 triumph. The sibling’s teammate at Community Badminton Club, Andreau Galvez and Jen Savellano, also made short work of their opponents. Galvez and Savellano were paired against Edwin Montoya and Shirley Kim in the other mixed doubles A match and nailed a 21-16, 21-16 victory.
Meanwhile, three singles matches were played in the opening day of the month-long competition.

In the women’s singles B, Dianne Francisco crushed Merlie Tolentino in the first game, 21-6, and completed the sweep with a 21-11 win in the second. In the men’s singles B, Aries Cordero was also unstoppable, recording an impressive 21-12, 21-7 victory over Celso Agui.

The other singles match in the opener went the distance with the veteran Glenn Bluutjens surviving youth player Deether Edralin. Bluutjens escaped with a 21-8 win in the first game, but failed to second the match early when Edralin came back swinging with a 21-19 victory. The deciding third game was another nip-and-tuck battle with Bluutjens sweating out a 21-18 triumph.

Last Friday’s opener kicked off with IT&E executive director for customer service Rob Harrell turning over the company’s $1,200 donation to Northern Marianas Badminton Association president Jerry Tan. The donation turnover ceremony was also attended by other NMBA officials and according to Tolentino, the group’s general secretary, the money will be used for cash prizes and trophies.

IT&E executive director for customer service Rob Harrell, standing right, turns over the company’s $1,200 donation to NMBA president Jerry Tan, standing left, for the 2014 IT&E Mixed Doubles and Singles Badminton Tournament last Friday night at the TSL Sports Complex.
(ROSELYN B. MONROYO)