Back-to-back singles titles for Galvez

Andreau Galvez retained the men’s singles A crown after sweeping Ferdie Arago in their finals showdown in the IT&E Singles & Mixed Doubles Badminton Tournament 2012 last Saturday at the NMBA Gym at the TSL Sports Complex in Gualo Rai.

Galvez, who took last year’s championship after surviving Dick Guintu in two hard-fought set, 21-18, 21-18, moved a game away from winning back-to-back titles after a 21-16 victory in the first game. The eventual champion was in control of the match, leading at the break, 11-9, as he held his ground against the power shots of Arago with a good mix of net and push shots and smashes.

Arago, who gave up the opening set after his smash went out of the baseline, was pressured to win the second game to extend the match and he delivered early as his smashes were going in and he also scored points off a couple of drops, catching Galvez off guard. At the halfway mark of the second game and with his teammates cheering him on, Arago managed to take the driver’s seat, 11-7.

At the resumption of the second game, Arago and Galvez went neck-and-neck before the former committed two costly errors in the extended duel to hand the latter the win. The game was tied last, 23-all, before Arago’s slice hit the net, moving Galvez a point away from wrapping up the match. Players then traded shots in the ensuing plays before Arago made another miscue with his smash going wide to the left sideline.

It was a sorry loss for Arago, as in the extended second game, he was ahead on two occasions and needed only one point to close the deal, but could not do it.

Arago, who missed last year’s finale after losing incidentally to Galvez in the semis, 23-21, 14-21, 14-21, this time advanced to the championship round after beating Sam Jones, 21-14, 21-16. Galvez earned a return trip to the finals after sweeping Guintu in an early rematch, 21-11, 21-16. Guintu managed to save third place after edging Jones in the consolation game, 12-21, 21-17, 21-19.

Completing the men’s singles champions were Jexler Caranto and Brandon Talania.

Talania took the men’s C crown after surviving Kanata Omori in a three-game finale. Talania dropped the opening game, 16-21, but recovered in the last two, 21-11, 21-16, to steal the title from Omori.

The newly crowned men’s C champion also came from a three-game semis win over Dick Koo, 21-16, 11-21, 21-13, to make it to the finals. Omori had an easier semis game, sweeping Son Jae Ok, 21-15, 21-16. Koo joined Talania and Omori in the Top 3 with his 21-16, 21-12 win over Son.

Caranto swept his way to the men’s B championship, beating eventual third placer Oh Im Bog in the semis, 21-15, 21-12, and Wowie Abuel in the finals, 21-15, 24-22. Abuel had a free pass to the finals after winning via default over the off-island Rodwealth Espana.