Sertan-Galerio tandem wins A/B men’s crown

The tandem of  Kevin Bergantin and Cathlyn Arevalo and the pair of Dodie Sertan and Larry Galerio ruled the A/B level of the Play It Forward II badminton tournament last Saturday night at the Metro Sports Center in barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

Bergantin and Arevalo of Team PATTS – Mandaue trounced Fritz Sugaad and Jessa Lagat, 21-16, 21-18, to top the mixed doubles competition and pocket the P10,000 cash prize of the event organized by the Primary Group of Builders Badminton Club.

In the men’s doubles, the Philippine Air Force pair Sertan and Galerio survived the gritty duo of former Palarong Pambansa player Dexter Opalla and Jay Batulan, 24-22, 21-15, in the finals to emerge victorious.

A total of 202 players from all over the country participated in this second edition of the cash-rich tournament, whose proceeds will be given to the scholars of the School of Knowledge for Industrial, Labor, Leadership and Service (SKILLS).

The tournament’s overall chairman Rey Escuadro referred to the tournament as the grandest that they have organized because of the large number of participants it attracted.

In the level D finals games, Arevalo and her partner Diana Balungcas waylaid Mitch Fernandez and Joebelyn Garcia, 21-17, 21-15, in the women’s doubles while the team of James Villarante and Carl Behasa defeated Brian Bacalso and John Bergantin, 21-19, 27-25, in the men’s doubles.

Conie Recio and Tim Alvar, on the other hand, bounced back from a first set loss to beat the Arevalo-John Bergantin pair, 12-21, 21-16, 21-9, in the mixed doubles championship game.

In the newly added Executives’ Class round robin finals, the pair of Bobby Villareal and Abner Bantulan soaked Ramil Kyamko and Nestor Etis, 21-18, 21-13, to finish as champions.

In the level E mixed doubles final, Kyamko recovered from the loss in the Executives’ Class as he and Jennifer Alterado turned back Raymond Grengia and John Therese Israel, 22-24, 21-17, 21-18, to bag the P6,000 cash prize.

Aeron Tatoy and Junrey Balorio overcame Arman Quano and his partner Ritchie Illaga in the level F men’s doubles championship, 21-19, 21-14. Tatoy also teamed up with Evonie Antone to capture the mixed doubles crown of the same level against Omar Payanan and Twinkle Cabahug, 21-15, 21-19.

Champions in the G level are the pairs of Witty Isma and Maggie Montejo (women’s doubles), Romeo Bordador and Rhandy Pamplona (men’s doubles), and Daniel Lao and Jessica Caputol (mixed doubles).