USC tandem bags boys’ U-15 crown

University of San Carlos’ (USC) James Ryan Villarante and Carl Bernard Bejasa made Cebu proud after winning the boys’ doubles under-15 division title in last weekend’s 2nd Sun Cellular National Juniors Badminton Tournament-National Finals held at the J Centre Mall in Mandaue City.
Villarante and Bejasa, the only pair that qualified from Cebu, outplayed Ian Maui and Ramon Timothy Santos of MSI Juniors from  Bulacan, 21-11, 21-8, to capture the title.
Going to the Finals, the Cebuano pair first edged out Metro Kidapawan Badminton’s Agustin Lim Alvarez and Ralph Batalon, 21-7, 21-16, in the semis.
Aside from the doubles title, Bejasa also placed second in the boys’ under-15 division singles event of the tournament that featured the 66 qualifiers from competitions held in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao earlier this year.
Winners in the U-19 division singles event were Yana Ysabelle Chua of Bacolod Taytung High School Thunderbolts and Kerr Longno of Jaguar Badminton Academy of Cadiz City.
Longno paired with Jaylord Nicor to rule the boys’ U-19 doubles event. The girls’ U-19 doubles champion were Catrina Marie Osden and and Diana Carla Yulo of University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City.
In the U-17 division, Aldreen Rae Concepcion and Mark Shelley Alcala of Team Allied-Victor Manila dominated the girls and boys’ singles, respectively. Girls’ doubles U-17 champions were Janelle Anne Andres and Beatriz Felizardo of Team JB/Babolat from Manila while the tandem of Ron Danelle Cabalquinto and John Arl Parantar of Metro Kidapawan Badminton topped the U-17 boys’ doubles.  Cody Torres and Anne Lorraine Cario of Bacolod Taytung High School Thunderbolts placed first in the U-17 mixed doubles.