Among the competing teams were the Saipan Badminton Club, Taga BC, Dberks BC, Golden Racquet BC, and Shirley’s BC.
Hannah Choi, who dominated two of the Shirley’s Badminton Classic’s five doubles events last month, will represent Saipan BC’s class A division with Dick Guintu.
Other class A players this season included Taga’s Andrew Galvez and Angie and Loyda Ito, Dberks BC’s Ferdie Arago, Macoi Aguda, Marlene Peraja, and Lucille Lampera, Shirleys’ Hapi Gabriel, Gerry Hibi, and Malou Malasarte, and GBRC’s Anna Omori, Anna Alvarez, and Cheng Zingcayan.
Despite having no male class A players, the GBRC includes 25 netters — the most among any team — from the men’s class B and C and women’s class A, B, and C divisions.
Galvez and teammate Rodwealth Espana drew first blood on Saturday after crushing Edwin Montoya and Erik Pena in two sets, 21-13, 21-17. Macoi Aguda and Wowie Abuel followed with a three-set victory over Gerry Hibi and Cris Hilario (19-21, 23-21, 21-16).
Golden Racquet BC scored its first win in the men’s class C division when Eydie Uy and Jordan outran Luis Camacho and Panapa Peteru, 21-13, 21-17. GRBC’s Noli Santos and Edwin Maratas then conquered Jerry Tan and Espana 21-11, 21-10.
In women’s action, Marlene Peraja and Annette Quiambao defeated Shirley’s BC’s Malou Malasarte and Windy Fernandez, 21-15, 21-12.
Fernandez and Roma Barlao later came back for a 21-6, 21-5 win versus Dberks’ Jane Tupaz and Arlene Naguit.
In Saturday’s lone women’s singles match, Malasarte surmounted Lampera, 21-16, 17-21, 21-9.
The Traders-sponsored badminton event resumed yesterday but results weren’t available during press time. Games will be played every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until December 4.
