Cebu junior badminton players bag 4 titles in Sun-Ming tilt

Cebuano junior shuttle smashers made good account of themselves by carting away four titles in the Sun Cellular-Ming Ramos National Badminton Cup finals held in SM North Edsa over the weekend.

Smashers from the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, Southwestern University (SWU), University of Cebu and other Cebu-based badminton clubs combined forces for a smashing show in the two day competition featuring some of the country’s best junior netters.

USC’s Carl Bernard Bejasa and Laville Laborte led the Cebuanos’ surge by capturing the singles titles in the under-15 boys and girls divisions, respectively.

Bejasa won all of his matches by outlasting Davao City’s Arthur Samuel Salvado Jr. in three sets, 21-12, 18-21, 21-17, and Team JB’s Jewel Angelo Albo, 21-18, 21-16.

Bejasa also paired with Paul James Ouano to capture the bronze medal in the boys under-15 doubles.

Laborte meanwhile, won over Maria Virginia Lopez via default then crushed Cagayan de Oro Shuttle Busters’ Maria Lopez Babanto, 21-11, 21-16, in the girls under-15 singles final.

Bejasa’s younger sister Zinah Marichelle Bejasa also placed second in the girls under-13 singles. She represented Raquet Zone Badminton Club. She won over Nevie Natan of C-One Badminton Club, 21-9, 16-21, 23-21, but lost to Anthea Marie Gonzales of Team JB also in three sets, 8-21, 21-15, 23-21.

Meanwhile, the tandem of Mia Manguilimotan of Talisay City and Saint Joseph Academy’s Ellana Tan won the gold in the girls doubles under-15 division by beating Elloise Marie Canillo and Jeliene Geviane de Vera of Whackers Badminton Club, 20-22, 21-17, 21-19, and Maria Lourdes Babanto and Maxene Renee Olango of CDO Shuttle Busters, 21-11, 24-22.

The Cebuanos’ fourth title was won by SWU smashers Android Rose Tingson and Tricia Opon who topped the girls doubles under-17 division.

They won over Janelle Anne Andres and Beatrice Aurelio Felizardo of Team JB, 21-18, 22-20, and completed their dominating sweep by outplaying Sofia Enriquez and Jennifer Helyn Saladaga of Davao City, 19-21, 21-13, 21-13.