6 pairs unbeaten in IT&E badminton tilt

By Roselyn Monroyo
Saipan Tribune Reporter

Macoi Aguda, right, serves while teammate Saul Gargallo looks on during their game against Jerry Hibi and Eric Pena in the men's A division of the 2009 IT&E Badminton Doubles Tournament Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo) The pair of Macoi Aguda and Saul Gargallo is among the six undefeated teams in the men's A division after two days of action in the 2009 IT&E Badminton Doubles Tournament held over the weekend at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Aguda and Gargalo won their first two matches to take the lead in the men's A division. They debuted with a 21-7, 21-18 victory over Edwin Montoya and Gary Bandoja Saturday and improved to a 2-0 record after a 21-14, 19-21, 21-12 triumph over Jerry Hibi and Eric Pena Sunday.

In second place with a 2-1 record is the duo of Hapi Gabriel and Robert Reyes, who lost their opening game to Hibi and Pena, 19-21, 24-22, 19-21. On Day 2, Gabriel and Reyes swept their games, beating the tandem of Montoya and Bandoja, 21-14, 21-17, and the pair of Lito Mendoza and Joseph Santos, 21-17, 21-19.

Mendoza and Santos hold a 1-1 record after downing Montoya and Bandoja on Day 1 of the weekend tournament, 21-19, 21-18. The duo of Bandoja and Montoya is winless in three games.

In the men's B division, two pairs are undefeated with Mario Diola and Paul Navarro winning two games on Day 1 and Roger Vales and Efren Cacdac also notching a 2-0 slate.

Diola and Navarro prevailed over Alfred Acosta and Edwin Maratas, 21-11, 21-13, 21-18, and Daniel Macario and Jorge Olanda, 19-21, 21-16, 21-19. The tandem of Vales and Cacdac won over Emil De Belen and Rommel Villavisa, 21-19, 22-20, on Day 1, and against Andrew Galvez and Victor Reyes, 21-19, 12-31, 21-14, on Day 2.

In the women's B vision, the pair of Marylyn Montano and Cheng Saturno is unbeaten in two games after trouncing Ingrid Sanchez/Cristy Villaflor, 21-16, 21-15, and Lea Estinopo and Rose Lazaro, 21-10, 21-13.

Sanchez and Villaflor are in second place with a 2-1 slate after winning their first game over Estinopo and Lazaro, 21-12, 21-5, and third match against Shirley Kim and Angelie Ito, 21-14, 21-16.

Rodwealth Espana and James Digno are leading in the men's C division with a perfect 2-0 record following their victories over Puy Macario and Chris Hilario, 21-17, 21-17, and Ezekiel Macario and Roding Domingo, 21-17, 21-10. Puy and Hilario recovered from their opening game loss after winning two games Sunday against Frank Villagomez and Ric Brien, 21-18, 7-21, 21-15, and Ezekiel and Domingo, 21-11, 21-11.

Leading in the women's C division is the pair of Elna Curate and Merlie Tolentino, who whipped Malou Guzman and Malou Mendoza Saturday, 14-21, 21-16, 21-12, and Dorie Pena and Hazel Dela Santa Sunday, 21-17, 21-15.

In the other game in the women's C division, Annette Quiambao and Irene Santiago defeated Mendoza and Guzman, 21-17, 22-20.

Action in the IT&E tournament will continue this weekend. The men's A and men's and women's C divisions will have a double round-robin format, while the men's and women's B will be a single round robin affair. The Top 4 teams in each division will move to the crossover semifinals.