IN a battle between youth and experience, the former prevailed as the tandem of Barbette Chavez Roa and Paglaum Sports newcomer Shielalyne Ratunil-Villanueva completed a rare sweep of the Civil Service Anniversary women’s badminton doubles competition, over the weekend, at the Capitol ground, Cagayan de Oro City.
Paired against the Cluster 6 White Knights, fronted by the 53-year-old badminton legend ‘Nang Inday’ Jessica Galindo and Karla Jael Macalos, the David and Goliath combination of Roa and Villanueva from Cluster 1 Blue Eagles buckled down to work right from the go to win in two-straight sets in the final for the crowning glory.
“Super happy kaayo ko kay first ring nako ni with Ma’am Barbette sa Capitol badminton. Sa chess ko nagdula in the last Charter Day Sportsfest when we ended up at second place,” the power-smashing five-foot-seven tall Villanueva told Gold Star Daily.
It was a different story, however, in men’s doubles when the top-seed duo of Levi Rana and John Paul Guing-guing from Cluster 3 Black Panthers had to go to the deciding third set to overcome the dangerous pair of Cluster 3 White Knights’ Philip Narte and Andy Obedencio, 2-1.
Narte and Obedencio built a commanding lead in the second set that was seriously threatened by their favored foes’ searing rally that fell short.
But there was no denying Rana and Guing-guing for the coveted title when Narte and Obedencio showed fatigue and eventually lost steam in the pivotal third frame.
Here are the official badminton results:
Men’s doubles
Champion ― Cluster 3 Black Panther
First runner-up ― Cluster 6 White Knights
Second runner-up ― Cluster 2 Maroon Warriors
Women’s doubles
Champion ― Cluster 1 Blue Eagles
First runner-up ― Cluster 6 White Knights
Second runner-up ― Cluster 2 Maroon Warriors
Mixed doubles
Champion ― Cluster 3 Black Panther
First runner-up ― Cluster 7 Grey Wolves
Second runner-up ― Cluster 6 White Knights
