Sun Palace badminton finalists set

The finals in the nine divisions of the Sun Palace Singles and Doubles Competition 2015 badminton tournament are all set with men’s and women’s A top seeds Andreau Galvez and Hannah Choi living up to their respective lofty billings.

Deether Edralin, left, and Jordan Pangilinan will try to avenge their elimination round loss to Youngson Yu and Jongmin Lee when they face off anew for the men’s doubles A crown two weekends from now.
(Jon Perez)

Galvez will be facing Deether Edralin in the men’s A finals after each dispatching Glenn Buultjens and Jordan Pangilinan in last weekend’s semifinals matches. Choi and challenger Janelle Pangilinan easily arranged a women’s finals showdown after both of their opponents failed to show up.

Galvez needed three sets before ending Buultjens’ finals bid, 21-10, 20-22, 21-17, while Edralin scored a tough 21-14, 21-16 decision against Pangilinan. Buultjens and Pangilinan will face off in the battle for third place.

Newbies Daniel Kim and Mikiya Takahashi will contend for the men’s C title after last year’s champion A.J. Ortega was eliminated by Owen Ou, 21-17, 21-18, in their knockout match.

Ou lost to Takahashi, 21-12, 23-25, 14-21, while Kim won by default against Jeremi Montenejo in the semis. Ou and Montenejo and will clash for third place honors.

It will be youth versus veteran for the women’s singles B crown with Havika Farro going up against Loyda Ito, while Merlie Tolentino takes on Nicole Malasarte for third place.

The women’s C title match will be between Vilma Reyes and Irish Pagarao. Reyes easily defeated Lani Santos, 21-11, 21-11, while Pagarao pulled off a 21-14, 22-20 win over Rose Lazaro.

Youngson Yu and Jongmin Lee hope to end up as the men’s doubles A champions when they face Edralin and Jordan Pangilinan.

Yu and Lee hacked out a tough 15-21, 21-10, 21-15 decision over Buultjens and Oh Im Bog, while Edralin and Pangilinan disposed of Galvez and Zeke Macario, 21-17, 21-18.

Lee then teamed up with Oh to reach the men’s doubles B finals where they will meet his father, Jun, and Hancheol Yu. Nathan Guerrero and partner Hajin Kim will face Takahashi and Daniel Kim for the men’s C title.

Janelle Pangilinan and Malasarte will try to end Cho and Lani Bartolome’s unbeaten run when they collide in the women’s A finals. Malasarte will then team up with Farro when they take on Maryln Montano and Lucelle Lampera for the women’s B crown.

The women’s C finals will be between Reyes and Baby Banadera against Santos and partner Gigi Zapanta.