INQUIRER Sports

OUT-OF-TOWN smashers dominated the 1st SMART/PLDT Badminton Invitational Tournament held at the MetroSports Badminton courts in Lahug, last Saturday.

Miller Brasa of the Mindanao Times and Jose Rodriguez of ABS-CBN-Davao led the podium march of the visiting players after the duo bagged the Men’s Doubles crown. They beat Cebu Daily News sports editor Rick Gabuya and Mark Lim in two tough sets, 21-19, 21-19 in the finals.

Brasa was later named the Best Player in Men’s Doubles.

Both teams topped their respective brackets with three wins and no loss before disposing their separate rivals in the semifinal round.

The Women’s Doubles title meanwhile, went to Vangie Janea of PLDT/Smart and Ilo-ilo’s Gloria Bacaltos who routed Delia Jumalon and Jocelyn Vales of ABS-CBN Cagayan de Oro City, 21-8 and 21-15.

Janea was later named the Best Women’s Doubles player.

In Mixed Doubles, Bong Lintag and Richelle Ting of PLDT/Smart prevented visiting teams from totally dominating the event by taking the crown after beating Efren Lonzon and Cheramie Lavarez of Sun.Star-Cebu, 21-19, 21-18. Lonzon was named the best player in Mixed Doubles while Ting won the women’s special award.

Meanwhile, Mon Isberto, the head of the Public Affairs Group of Smart-PDLT said that due to the huge success of the event, organizers are planning to stage it on an annual basis.

“With the way and eagerness of the teams and participants, we are planning to do this again next year. We will try to get some consensus to see how we can make this better and more exciting,” Isberto said to the roaring approval of the players.

A total of 48 players came out to play in the one-day tournament which kicked-off this year’s Press Freedom Week festivities.