8 pairs barge into semifinals

The semis cast in the mixed doubles A and B events of the 2014 IT&E Mixed Doubles and Singles Badminton Tournament was completed over the weekend at the TSL Sports Complex.

In the mixed doubles A, the pairs of Andreau Galvez and Jennine Savellano and Lanie Bartolome and Ferdie Arago topped Group 1 with their similar 3-1 records to bag the two Final Four berths in their bracket. The co-leaders claimed the two semis tickets against three other teams—Edwin Montoyo and Shirley Kim (2-2), Hapi Gabriel and Windy Fernandez (2-2), and Celo Agui and Cristy Villaflor (0-4).

In Group 2, Glenn Bluutjens and Hannah Choi and siblings Jordan and Janelle Pangilinan are the Top 2 finishers and will battle the Group 1 semifinalists in the next round. Bluutjens and Choi ruled the bracket with their perfect 4-0 record, while the Pangilinans were ranked second after earning a 3-1 mark. Other pairs who joined Group 2, but failed to make the grade were Sam Jones and Alma Ortega (0-4), Macoi Aguda and Toshiko Obata (1-3), and Joel Ortega and Loyda Ito (0-4).

After missing a semis spot in the mixed doubles A, Obata assured herself of a Final Four stint in the mixed doubles B, as she teamed up with Aries Cordero in prevailing in Group 3 of their division. The Obata and Cordero tandem were unscathed in four games, beating Chris Hilario and Fernandez (3-1), Ezekiel Macario and Mykki Caracuty (2-2), and Panapa Peteru and Emily Vargas (1-3).

Joining Obata and Cordero in the Final Four are Deether Edralin and Havikka Farro, Vic Regis and Cheng Saturno, and Kelvin and Julie Son, who also swept their elimination round games. Farro and Edralin were undefeated in Group 4, finishing the elimination with a 4-0 slate, while Cheng and Saturno were unbeaten in three matches in Group 2, and Yong and Julie Son had a similar 4-0 record in Group 1.

In the mixed doubles C, the Final Four cast has yet to be decided with three pairs still fighting for the two slots in Group 1. Jeremy Montenejo and Nicola Malasarte are still perfect after three games to boost their playoff chances, while K. You and Christine Saplan and Taeho Kim and Emiyl Vargas are still in the running, holding 3-1 and 2-1 records, respectively. I

In Group 2, it is still a three-way battle among Eydie Uy and Merlie Savellano (3-0), Ray Musada and Lani Santos (2-1) and the mother-and-son duo of Gigi and Raphael Zapanta (2-1). Sato San and Roxe Lazaro (0-4) and Marc Mora and Patricia Abanto (1-2) are out of contention, joining Group 1’s Patrick and Vilma Fernandez (2-2) and John Canto and Caracut (0-4) in the showers.

Toshiko Obata steps forward for a return, while teammate Aries Cordero looks on during their mixed doubles B game against Ezekiel Macario and Mykki Caracut in the IT&E badminton tournament last Saturday at the TSL Sports Complex.
(ROSELYN B. MONROYO)