Agape’s team members pose for a photo after winning the middle school division title of the TakeCare-PSS Interscholastic Badminton League SY23-24 at the Ada gym on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.
AGAPE Christian School claimed the middle school division championship on Saturday, Nov. 18, after stunning the favored Saipan International School, 3-2, in the finale of the TakeCare-PSS Interscholastic Badminton League at the Ada gym.
ACS and SIS vied for the title in five different events.
Kicking off the finale was the Girls Singles event between ACS’ Joanna Zhang and SIS’ Aubrey White.
Zhang was unmatched in skill and speed. She was in control throughout most of the exchange in the first set, but a few hitches handed White an opportunity to execute a handful of highlights. Nonetheless, Zhang still eased her way to victory, 21-9. The second set showcased Zhang’s ability to stay consistent, allowing White only six points before closing out with her second straight win, 21-6, to bag the first match for ACS.
ACS’s Daniel and Joseph Wang extended their team’s win streak by defeating SIS’ Kanoa Owens and Jude Rayphand in the Boys Doubles.
Daniel and Joseph’s chemistry surpassed that of Owens and Rayphand in the opening set thanks to the ACS players’ communication, precision and smash returns. They won the match, 21-11, 21-11.
Daniel Yang handed ACS their third straight win — and the division title — by besting Rayphand in both sets of the Boys Singles event, 21-8, 21-12.
Although ACS already had the championship in the bag, SIS continued to put up a fight and was finally awarded for their efforts.
SIS notched its first win thanks to Lina Tsukagoshi and Adelle Taflinger who defeated ACS’ Joyce Ying and Kate Xu, 21-7, 21-7.
SIS also won the Mixed Doubles led by Tsukagoshi and Michael Guintu who edged ACS’ Joseph Yang and Joanna Zhang in a nail-biting match, 21-20, 22-20.
3rd place
In the battle for third place, Hopwood Middle School triumphed over Saipan Community School, 10-5.
HMS’ Danielle Joson bested SCS’ Vivian Chung in the Girls Singles, 21-15, 16-21, 21-20; SCS’ Jihun Park and Richard Zhao defeated HMS’ Peng Lin and John Quidato in the Boys Doubles, 21-13, 21-17; HMS’ Walter Clave outplayed SCS’ Jihun Park in the Boys Singles, 21-14, 16-21, 21-13; HMS’ Joson and Precious Galapon bested SCS’ Jinny Lee and Dayeon Ko in the Girls Doubles, 21-15, 21-13; while HMS’ Clave and Galapon outlasted SCS’ Soo Ho Jin and Ko, 21-14, 21-15.
NMBA President Merlie Tolentino and PSS Athletic Programs Department representative Lawrence Camacho awarded trophies to the top three teams.
