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Eagles prevail in Badminton Singles, different colleges reclaim Doubles
By Kelly Camille G. Alair & Kenrich P. Gapasin
In their quest for the championship title, badminton players advanced through several rounds and opponents on Feb 25 to 26 at the XU Covered Court.
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Under different categories, singles and doubles, men’s and women’s, and mixed doubles, players battled to bring the title to their respective schools and colleges. SBM Eagles Randy Rafisura and Hope Felizarta were among the few who won their respective singles matches during the tournament.
Eagle Rafisura and CCS Wizard Nathan Chiu rarely got the shuttlecock to strike on the ground in the men’s singles—a riveting sight to witness.
Rafisura won the first set after an unyielding rally, 21–7. Eager to stun his rival, Wizard Chiu tried to summon his forces against him but was pinned down by Rafisura in the second set, 21–17.
Rafisura emerged victorious as the first player to win two sets out of three.
Eagle Felizarta also showcased her grit during the women’s singles. The first set unfolded with
Felizarta overpowering the ArtScies Tiger, 21–11. They tied the score in the second set, but Felizarta ended the game strongly, 22–20. Like Rafisura, Felizarta soared at a high altitude.
For the men’s doubles, Eng’g Warriors Bernie Lagnada and Iremarl Ilisan hurled the Eagles back to their nest in the first set, 21–16. They slaughtered the Eagles with their fiery smashes in the second set, bagging the gold, 21–9.
In the women’s doubles, the Aggie Bulls Frances Tan and Psalm Yu competed against the Eagles and prevailed in the end after a series of dogged rallies, 24–22. Before the second rally started, both teams had their sights set on the heats, but Tan and Yu stopped the Eagles from taking flight and were crowned champions, 21–17.
Meanwhile, the NSG Pythons Mariyah Paña and Ivan Catiil in mixed doubles tightened their grip on their rackets in the first set, 24–22, then inflicted their venom on the Eagles, 21–19.
The Eagles took two golds and three silvers to flight, earning them enough points to secure the overall championship. While most players thrilled the audience with their balks and flicks, the champions’ resounding smashes proved to be the most potent of all.C
