Lance Gallardo preps for the return as teammate Andreau Galvez serves during a Men’s Doubles match of the NMI Badminton National Championships at the Ada gym.
The winners in the girls U17 division pose for a photo during the awards ceremony of the NMI Badminton National Championships at the Ada gym.
ANDREAU Galvez remains one of the top badminton players on island as he collected two titles in the open division of the NMI Badminton National Championships 2023, which was held at the Ada gym from Dec. 8 to 10 by the Northern Marianas Badminton Association.
Galvez won his first title in the Men’s Singles event by besting Lance Gallardo in two sets.
Both players were evenly matched, but Galvez had the edge when it came to placement and reaction time as he gradually controlled the tempo to defeat Gallardo in the first set, 21-14.
Gallardo tried to recover during the second set, but he could not find a chink in Galvez’s defense and eventually settled for defeat, 13-21.
Galvez’s second title was achieved with the help of Gallardo as they paired up to win the Men’s Doubles event in a nail-biting three-set match against Jordan Pangilinan and Nathan Guerrero.
The opening set was filled with back-and-forth action with neither team able to gain a sizeable lead. But toward the end, it was Galvez and Gallardo that clinched the set with a quick return to triumph, 21-20.
In the second set, Pangilinan and Guerrero grasped control of the momentum and stayed aggressive to force a third and final set.
Galvez and Gallardo made the right adjustments in the third set and held onto the lead long enough to secure victory, 21-15, and claim the Men’s Doubles title.
Mixed Doubles
Guerrero did not leave empty handed as he paired up with Janelle Pangilinan to win the Mixed Doubles title by beating Daniell Pablo and Shaina Malonso.
Guerrero and Janelle had a tough time figuring out Pablo and Malonso’s rhythm in the first set, but they eventually finished strong to triumph, 21-15.
In the second set, Guerrero and Janelle easily dispatched their opponents, 21-11, to take home the title.
Rising star
Janelle collected another title when she teamed up with the NMI’s rising badminton star, Lina Tsukagoshi. They bested Shaina Malonso and Charmaine Bautista in two sets, 21-11, 21-11.
Malou Malasarte, for her part, bagged the Women’s Singles title by outplaying Abigael Robles, 21-17, 21-14.
U17 division
Shaina Malonso earned two titles in the U17 division.
She claimed her first win in the Women’s Singles when she defeated Abigael Robles, 21-13, 21-12.
She notched another title with the help of Charmaine Bautista as they bagged the Women’s Doubles title after slipping past Prapti Mondal and Genelyn Lansangan, 21-20, 21-20.
The Men’s Singles title was claimed by Kyle Salcedo, who took down Sean Dizon, 21-16, 21-20.
Dizon still went home a champion after he paired with Brandon Manacop to win the Men’s Doubles title by edging Evan Seguritan and Jude Mallari, 20-21, 21-16, 21-19.
Marlon Bautista and Lina Tsuakgoshi won the Mixed Doubles title after outlasting Kyle Salcedo and Prapti Mondal in a three-set battle, 9-21, 21-20, 21-20.
