Shirley’s BC saves playoff seat

Shirley’s Badminton Club caught the last trip to the playoff round of the 5th Annual Traders Insurance Badminton Team Tournament after beating TAGA Badminton Club in a make-or-break match over the weekend at the TSL Sports Complex.

TAGA and Shirley’s BC were at the bottom two of the five-club field before last weekend’s final pairing and an 18-15 victory moved the latter to the semis and booted out the former. Shirley’s BC finished fourth with 61 games won, only six more against TAGA (55).

Shirley’s BC boosted its playoff chances after prevailing in five of the first seven matches played last Saturday. After the initial duel, Shirley’s earned 16 games won against only six for TAGA.

Jexter Caranto and Brandon Talania gave Shirley’s its first win last Saturday after beating Panapa Peteru and Luis Camacho in the men’s C doubles, 21-15, 12-21, 21-18. Shirley’s also took its second men’s doubles victory when Chris Hilario and Glenn Buljenns swept Jerry Tan and Mahesh Balakrishna in the B division, 21-8, 21-12. Andrew Galvez and Rodwealth Espana handed TAGA its lone victory in the men’s doubles after outlasting Hapi Gabriel and Joseph Santos in the A division, 18-21, 21-17, 21-19.

In the women’s doubles, Shirley’s Malou Malasarte and Roma Barlao defeated Loyda Ito and Gigi Zapanta in the A division, 24-22, 21-16; Barlao and Windy Fernandez downed Rose Lazaro and Lani Santos in the C category, 21-7, 21-18; and TAGA’s Shirley Kim and Cristy Villaflor swept Jaja Samonte and Elma Labuson in the B division, 21-14, 21-15. Shirley’s BC’s fifth win last Saturday came in the mixed doubles B with Sam Jones and Annette Ta thumping Tan and Kim, 21-17, 21-11.

TAGA made up for its bad start last Sunday when it topped three of the last four matches and had nine games won, but it was not enough to save the team from elimination.

TAGA ruled both singles matches with Angie Ito downing Malasarte in the women’s pairing, 21-14, 21-15, and Galvez dominating Gabriel in the men’s field, 21-9, 21-17. In the two remaining mixed doubles matches, TAGA and Shirley’s had a split with the former’s Luis Camacho and Elna Curate winning over Caranto and Barlao in the C division, 21-15, 21-17, and Gerry Hibi and Ta getting even with a 21-17, 21-12 triumph over Angie Ito and Espana in the A category.

After a close win against TAGA in the eliminations, Shirley’s BC will have an even tougher foe in the semifinals this Friday as it will face the top-seeded Saipan Badminton Club. SBC clobbered Shirley’s in their lone meeting in the elimination round, 25-8. The other semis pairing will feature second-ranked Golden Racquet Badminton Club against No. 3 Berks Blazers. Semis matches will be played tomorrow and this Saturday, while the championship round is set for Sunday.