Lin Yu Hsien of Chinese-Taipei (Taiwan) extends for the lob return during a Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open match Monday at the Ada gym.
The NMI’s Daniel Macario makes the serve against Guam’s Chen Yang Hu during a Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open match Monday at the Ada gym.
Lee Yun Gyu of South Korea steps forward for the backhand return during a Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open match Monday at the Ada gym.
TOP seed Kevin Cordón of Guatemala delivered as expected as he advanced to round 3 in the men’s singles event of the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open 2023 Wednesday at the Ada gym.
The NMI’s players, for their part, gave it their all but lost their elimination matches.
As for Cordón, he faced Guam’s Allan Zeng and showcased his world-class performance by winning both games of the match.
Cordón showed complete control, scoring 16 consecutive points and leaving Zeng with no room to defend. Zeng later managed to gain two points in a row but could only benefit from errors before Cordón turned up the heat and quickly disposed his opponent in the first game, 21-4.
In the second game, Zeng scored the first two points, but Cordón quickly turned the tide and scored 21 points in a row to triumph, 21-2.
Upset win
The much-anticipated match between Kevin Cordón and the world’s former no. 1, Son Wan Ho of South Korea, will not happen following Yang Yang’s sensational victory over the South Korean after a grueling three-game match.
In a battle for momentum, Yang, representing Chinese-Taipei (Taiwan), drew first blood by clinching game 1, 21-15, which was highlighted by his seven consecutive points.
But Son Wan Ho bounced back in the second game, 21-10, with his own highlight reel of six consecutive points to force a third and final game.
Yang Yang kept his head up and used well-placed returns mixed with powerful smashes to notch an upset victory, 21-18.
Yang Yang then advanced to the third round by eliminating the NMI’s Brian Lubao, 21-6, 21-2. Lubao reached the second round via a walkover against Ratchaphol Srithong of Thailand.
The NMI’s Daniel Macario was the only other local player to advance past the first round after beating Guam’s Chen Yang Hu.
Placement and quick reaction were Macario’s strengths as he kept the shuttlecock afloat and finished each lob return with devastating smashes to outmuscle Chen Yang Hu in both games, 21-13, 21-11.
Macario, however, was eliminated by Yushi Tanaka of Japan in round 2, 11-21, 13-21.
The other NMI players eliminated were Daniell Pablo, who lost to Shashwat Dalal of India, 4-21, 3-21; Leonard Manuel, who was bested by Chung-Hsiang Yih of Chinese-Taipei (Taiwan), 8-21, 1-21; Paulo Quidato, who was pummeled by Cheng-Han Tsai of Chinese-Taipei (Taiwan), 6-21, 4-21; and Ian Lubao, who was overpowered by Nathan Tang of Australia, 4-21, 5-21.
In another nail-biting match, South Korea’s Lee Yun Gyu, defeated Liu Wei Chi of Chinese-Taipei (Taiwan) in three games, 15-21, 21-15, 22-20. Lin Yu Hsien of Chinese-Taipei (Taiwan) also emerged victorious in a three-game match against Nguyen Hai Dang of Vietnam, 13-21, 21-13, 24-22.
