All-Stars take badminton tourney lead

The Green All-Stars gained their second straight win to claim the solo lead in the 2nd Traders Insurance Badminton Team Tournament Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The All-Stars, who won their debut against the Blue Powers by only two points, 4-2, played better on Day 2 crushing the Smash Killers, 5-1.

After two days of competition, the All-Stars now have a 9-3 record while the Smash Killers dropped to a three-way tie for third.

The Smash Killers had a rousing start, whipping the Red Dragon Shuttlers, but on Day 2, only team captain Macoi Aguda won, topping Edwin Montoya in the men's A singles, 21-14, 21-16.

The Green All-Stars drew victories from the pairs of Jojo Savellano-Gerry Balarao, Roding Domingo-Debra Fisher, Savellano-Lupe Sabino, and Balarao-Lea Estinopo.

The tandem of Savellano-Balaro topped Robert Reyes-Paul Navarro in the men's doubles BB, 20-22, 22-20, 22-20.

In the mixed doubles CB, Domingo and Fisher defeated Andrew Galvez and Lucelle Lampera, 21-12, 13-21, 21-19, while Savellano teamed up with Sabino to outclass the pair of Ariel Mariano and Elna Curate in the mixed doubles BC, 21-15, 19-21, 22-20.

In the last doubles match-the BB mixed doubles-Savellano and Estinopo thwarted Marlene Peraja and Reyes, 21-9, 21-17. Fisher recorded the Green All-Stars fifth win after downing Marlene Peraja, 21-12, 21-5, in the women's B singles.

Also nailing their second win were the Gray Hawks, who handed the Blue Powers their second straight loss, 4-2.

The victory put the Hawks in solo second place with an 8-4 record.

The Red Dragon Shuttlers and the Bad Masters, who dropped their opening games, recovered in Day 2 to share the No. 3 spot with the Smash Killers.

The Shuttlers thumped D' Bombers, 5-1, to improve to a 6-6 record.

Marilyn Montano recorded D'Bombers' lone win on Day 2, slipping past Gigi Zapanta in the women's B singles.

With D' Bombers having only one win on Day 2, they dropped to a 5-7 record.

The Net Fighters and the Blue Powers are at the bottom of the team standings with identical 4-8 slates.

Action in the Northern Marianas Badminton Federation-organized tournament will resume this weekend.
(Saipan Tribune)