SPORTSMANSHIP & CAMARADERIE. After winning two consecutive sets, B&M Vipers’ mixed doubles category showed excellent synergy and defeated the SEA Tigers pair. (Photo courtesy of SAMAHAN Creative Team)

Every serve, shot, kill and smash from the players had a mix of power and grace during the battle for badminton glory last Sunday, July 24, at the Smashville gym during the Palarong Atenista 2016.

The venue was hot, but that didn’t pop the lively energy of the players and supporters. The players showed good sportsmanship and camaraderie as different divisions cheered each other on, be it a team mate or a personal favorite from a different division.

In the women’s singles category, SEA Tigers’ Balolong won third against SOE Sharks’ Domingo.  The finals featured a close fight between Erika Callero from the Business & Management Vipers and Mara Ng from the Accountancy Griffins. The game got more intense after Callero recovered from an injury she got in the later part of the game. Callero came back stronger than ever and eventually defeated Ng with a 4-point lead.

In the men’s singles, SEA Tiger Pate won against B&M Viper Batolome in the fight for third. The SS Dragons shouted loud and proud as they reigned supreme in men’s singles finals with Miraflores winning against ACC Griffin Cameros.

In the women’s doubles category, the HumLet Wolves, Baricuatro and Ligue were left to find for third after being defeated by the B&M Vipers’ dynamic duo Mardoquio and Salon. In the fight for third, the SS Dragons pair, Dizon and Galiro, won two sets out of three against the HumLet Wolves. The final game was a quick battle between the B&M Vipers and the ACC Griffins. B&M Vipers Mardoquio and Salon showed off their effective partnership and won 2 sets in a row against the ACC Griffins pair Catulong and Galang.

In the men’s doubles category, the ACC Griffins bagged third with the duo of Alcala and Orillan after defeating HumLet Wolves Chu and Alparo. The finals featured a heated and close battle between the Tigers Tiu and Rovillos against the Vipers Dela Cruz and Rosaldes. The crowd was shouting for SEA and B&M furiously. But in the end, the B&M Vipers took the crown.

For the mixed doubles category, the ACC Griffins took third with Martin and Mulato against SS Dragons Sumugat and Molina. In the finals, SEA Tiger Garcia’s partner, Rovillos endured the pain from two injuries and put up a good fight. But this was no match for B&M Vipers Ronilo Flotildes and Bea Lim who showed excellent synergy and defeated the SEA Tigers pair after winning two consecutive sets.

When asked about what she felt after winning the game, Bea Lim said, “Of course happy, pero naawa din ako sa mga na-injure kasi alam namin ano ang kanilang naramdaman as a co-athlete.”

Along with fellow B&M Viper Mardoquio, Lim expressed her gratefulness because all their trainings and hardwork paid off.

Final Results:

Women’s singles

1^st B&M Vipers Calero

2^nd ACC Griffins Ng

3^rd SEA Tigers Balolong

4^th SOE Sharks Domingo

5^th CS Chameleons Ngaya

6^th SS Dragons Gasta

7^th HumLet Wolves Bonifacio

8^th NSM Tajan

Men’s Singles

1^st SS Dragons Miraflores

2^nd ACC Griffins Cameros

3^rd SEA Tigers Pate

4^th B&M Griffins Batolome

5^th HumLet

6^th CS

7^th NSM

8^th SOE

Men’s Doubles

1^st B&M Vipers Dela Cruz/ Rosaldes

2^nd SEA Tigers Tiu/ Rovillos

3^rd ACC Alcala/ Orillan

4^th HUM  Chu/ Alparo

5^th SOE

6^th CS

7^th NSM

8^th SS

Women’s Doubles

1^st B&M Vipers Bea Mardoquio/ Salon

2^nd ACC Griffins Catulong/ Galang

3^rd SS Dragons Dizon/ Galiro

4^th HUM Baricuatro/ Ligue

5^th SOE Sharks

6^th SEA Tigers

7^th CS Chameleons

8^th NSM

Mixed Doubles

1^st B&M Vipers Rotildes/ Lim

2^nd SEA Rovillos/ Garcia

3^rd ACC Griffins Martin/ Mulato

4^th SS Dragons Sumugat/ Molina

5^th CS

6^th HUM

7^th SOE

8^th NSM