Blue Racketeers rules NMBA summer camp tourney

Winners in the mini tournament in the 2014 NMBA Youth Badminton Summer Camp pose with NMBA officials during the awards ceremony last week at the TSL Sports Complex. (Contributed Photo)

The Blue Racketeers bested three other teams, collecting 42 points in the four-day mini competition that featured doubles and mixed doubles events. The champion team finished way ahead of runner-up Prototype, which had 22 points. The Smashers was in close third behind Prototype with its 20 markers, while the Black Team came in at fourth with 12 points.

Two points were given to teams that earned one win, while squads were allowed a maximum of 15 players on their respective rosters. The Blue Rackeeters was composed of Leonardo Manuel, John and HaJin Oh, Jasmine Phan, Mikamaika and Michaella Serrano, Joshua Sanchez, Air Joy Velasco, John Guiller and Jacob Canape, Hannah Bordon, Katelyn Rabang, and Nicole Mascarinas. The champion team gained 12 points each in Day 2 and 4 of the mini tournament and 10 apiece in the two other days to dominate the four-team field.

Prototype had its best showing in the final day of the competition, notching eight points. It got six points each in the first two days before winning only one match on the third day to add two more points to its credit. Prototype had 12 players for the event. The list includes Kathleen Lacanilao, Jairah and Jenikah Elayda, Desirie Reyes, Jericho Montenejo, Oneil Magno, Matthew Manuel, Michael Bandoja, Leuhim Elayda, Charmaine and Stephanie Lagurero, and Claire Marzan.

The Smashers also fielded 12 players in the mini tournament with Yohanna Reyes leading the team. Completing the squad were Riselle Irish and Ivy Leong, Grazelle Viloria, Aldwin Batusin, Ethan Reyes, Mica Gatdula, Matthew Socorro, Eloise Rose Lopez, Carl Lambat, Archival Velasco Jr., and Monique Mascarinas. The Smashers earned eight points in the first two days of the event and had its best performance in Day 3 after tallying 10 points, but dropped to third, following its lone victory (two points) in the final day.

Black Team logged six points in the first day, missed a single point in Day 2, and closed out with six points in the last two days to place last. The squad had 13 players in Aaron Pamintuan, Eric Kiser, Jessica Lambert, Roma Malasarte, Christian Camoral, Nikky Maanao, Kamaryn Smith, Sherilyn and Charlene Beceril, Angela, Pavan Hamlani, Kristian Laquian, and Ezekiel Canape.

Guintu, Kiser top U10 event
Meanwhile, a separate doubles contest for U10 players took place during the summer camp last week with Frederick Guintu and Renee Kiser winning over three other pairs.

Guintu and Kiser swept their three foes, beating first the pair of Jeroen and Rheeza (last names were not indicated in the scoresheets), 21-10. The winning duo’s second victory was against the tandem of Kenny Laquian and Gwyneth, 21-13, and the last was versus Kristopher Laquian and Jeanine Quilantang, 21-10.

Participants in the U10 competition and the mini tournament joined the two-week summer camp that drew over 100 youth.