By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
SHIRLEY’S Northern Marianas Badminton Association Open 2025 concluded with thrilling finals across all categories, showcasing the skill, endurance, and competitive spirit of the local badminton community, as winning players were crowned national titleholders late Sunday afternoon at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
The highly contested men’s singles open saw Jude Mallari emerge as champion. The bracket, which featured 25 players, culminated in a marquee final matchup between Mallari and Minul Hoque.
The opening set saw both players evenly matched, highlighted by smart placement and powerful smashes, with neither able to seize full control. Toward the closing moments, Hoque gained the upper hand after scoring three consecutive points to lead 20-17. Mallari responded with three unanswered points, nearly stealing the set, but Hoque remained composed and closed it out, 21-20.
Despite Hoque’s first-set victory, Mallari raised the intensity in the second set with a more aggressive approach. Allowing little room for recovery, Mallari overwhelmed Hoque with sustained offensive pressure to claim the set, 21-13.
In the third and deciding set, Hoque attempted to regain composure, but Mallari maintained his momentum long enough to build a comfortable lead and seal the match, 21-16, to capture the men’s singles open title.
In the women’s singles open, 15-year-old Lina Tsukagoshi continued to prove she is the player to beat, defeating Genelyn Lansangan in straight sets, 21-9, 21-20, to claim the title.
Despite being singles rivals, Tsukagoshi and Lansangan paired seamlessly in the women’s doubles open, defeating sisters Nicole and Monique Mascarinas, 21-14, 21-9, to earn the championship.
In the men’s doubles open, Jordan Pangilinan and Ezekiel Macario dominated Minul Hoque and Lance Gallardo, 21-7, 21-6, to secure the title.
In the mixed doubles open, Daniell Pablo and Janelle Pangilinan emerged as champions after navigating a tough draw and putting on a strong performance against Andreau Galvez and Monique Mascarinas, 21-10, 21-16.
The tournament also featured a 35-and-over division. Vilma Reyes and Malou Malasarte captured the women’s doubles title, while Reyes added a second gold medal by teaming up with Ferdie Arago to win the mixed doubles championship.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
