NMI’s Daniell Pablo and Janelle Pangilinan prepare to receive a serve during a mixed doubles match on Day 2 of the 2025 Northern Marianas International at the Ada Gym on Wednesday.
Northern Marianas Badminton Association photo
AMONG the NMI teams that competed in the doubles events — men’s, women’s, and mixed — five reigned supreme on Day 2 of the Northern Marianas International 2025 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium on Wednesday.
In the men’s doubles event, NMI’s Rolando Gallardo and Andreau Galvez bested Guam’s Corey Lei and Fiji’s Tony Zhou by claiming both sets.
The difference in chemistry and skill was evident. The NMI duo played aggressively, using quick and constant returns to keep their opponents on their toes while barely leaving their side of the court exposed, recording a 5-0 run.
Although Lei and Zhou fought back, they never built enough momentum — only narrowing the gap by three points midway through the opening set. However, all hope was erased as Gallardo and Galvez gradually regained a comfortable seven-point lead before closing with a late-game rally to take the first set, 21-10.
In the second set, Lei and Zhou seemed to have figured out their opponents’ strategy, taking an early lead and forcing three deadlocks, the last at 8-8. However, the momentum shifted again as the NMI flipped the script with six unanswered points.
Lei and Zhou bounced back to cut the deficit to one, but their efforts fell short as the NMI responded with a four-point run to secure the second set, 21-16, and the match.
Joining the celebration were NMI’s Marlon Bautista and Dave Odicta, who triumphed over Fiji’s Kevin Du and Ethan Gibson, 21-14, 21-12, as well as NMI’s Daniell Pablo and Kyle Salcedo, who prevailed in a three-set battle against Guam’s Yu Xia and Allan Zeng, 21-17, 16-21, 21-17.
In the mixed doubles event, Andreau Galvez and Jenine Savellano staged a comeback against the Cook Islands’ Edward Patai and Lana Toa in another three-set thriller.
The first set was a close contest, with neither team gaining firm control. In the end, it was the Cook Islands that prevailed, 21-16.
Down one set, the NMI responded with renewed energy, using powerful smashes set up by forced lob returns to dominate the second set, 21-10.
Riding the momentum, Galvez and Savellano carried their performance into the third and final set, repeating the result, 21-10, to seal the victory.
Pablo tasted victory twice, pairing with Janelle Pangilinan to win their mixed doubles match against Tahiti’s Sebastien Meng and Maureen You, 21-18, 21-18.
