Janelle, Jomarie win multiple divisions

Janelle Pangilinan and Jomarie Azura reigned supreme in the TanHoldings Badminton Open 2024 after triumphing in multiple divisions last weekend at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Pangilinan teamed up with Prapti Mondial to top the women’s doubles open of the Northern Marianas Badminton Association-organized three-day tournament.

Their journey to the finals was circuitous as they had to beat Shemariah Hicaro and Trizian Canoza in the loser’s bracket. Then in the finals, Pangilinan and Mondial had to beat top finalist Genelyn Lansangan and Jen Cardinio twice to win the championship.

They took Game 1, 21-12, 20-21, 21-12, to erase Lansangan and Cardinio’s twice-to-beat advantage then took the tiara with a pulsating 15-14 win. Hicaro and Canoza settled for third place in the seven-team division.

Pangelinan said there was some trepidation entering the finals of the women’s open doubles, which was not the case in the mixed doubles.

“I knew it was going to be very challenging since me and my partner are new as a doubles team. The strategy was to give it all in every point, even though it was a far gap in score, both leading or behind,” said the 24-year-old TanHoldings employee who dedicated her twin wins to NMBA board members and everyone who made the tournament possible.

Modial, for her part, said she didn’t expect the win at all as she was sick going into the finals and didn’t really touch a badminton racquet prior to the tournament.

“It was a lot of fun but definitely tough to play. There wasn’t a specific strategy going into the finals. Me and my partner, coach Janelle, just wanted to have fun and try our best but we did get competitive as the games went on. My partner covered more of the back while I tried my best to handle the front.”

The 16-year-old Marianas High School student dedicated the women’s double open win to Pangilinan.

“She coached me while also motivating me during the matches. So, I tried my best during the games for her.”

In the mixed open doubles finals, Pangilinan and fellow CNMI national player Nate Guerrero downed Ferdie Arago and Canoza, 21-16, 21-11.

The eventual champions reached the finals after winning Bracket 1 and defeating Lance Gallardo and Monique Mascarinas in the semis. Arago and Canoza won Bracket 2 and advanced to the finals after beating Daniel Macario and Jen Cardinio.

Third place went to Gallardo and Mascarinas after they overcame Macario and Cardinio, 21-16, 18-21, 21-18. A total of 13 teams joined the mixed doubles event.

Guerrero said the mixed doubles open win was good preparation for his and Pangilinan’s participation in an international tournament this summer.

“It was really just to try out new strategies as opposed to just focusing winning the game and we are still working on them for the betterment of our partnership and we will continue to do so. The strategy is to put ourselves in uncomfortable positions so we can learn how to overcome that adversity. Going into the finals was just about minimizing the mistakes and playing hard knowing if we do that, we’ll get the results we wanted. We had good opponents in this tournament so we also knew we had to be on our best and can’t take anyone lightly,” said the 30-year-old Oleai Sports Complex staff.

Guerrero dedicated their win to the NMBA, tourney sponsor TanHoldings, Pangilinan, Macario, “as well as all the kids who love playing badminton in and out of the tournament.”

Azura, meanwhile, took home championships in the men’s open and men’s doubles open of the TanHoldings Badminton Open 2024.

Azura claimed the men’s open singles after a relatively easy 21-13, 21-12 win over Lance Gallardo. Azura was unbeaten in Bracket 2, recording four wins that included a victory over Daniel Mar Pablo to reach the finals. Gallardo ruled Bracket 1 and also had four victories, including a win over Kyle Salcedo to move to the finals

Third place in the 18-player men’s open singles field went to Pablo after he topped Salcedo, 18-21, 21-11, 21-17.

Azura then tag-teamed with Pangilinan’s older brother, Jordan, to upset national players Nate Guerrero and Ezekiel Macario, 21-15, 17-21, 21-14, in the finals.

Guerrero and Macario topped Bracket 1 after recording three wins, including a win over Arago and Dez Antonio. Pangilinan and Azura ruled Bracket 2 and also had three wins, including the semis victory over Dave Odicta and Marlon Bautista.

Bautista and Odicta won third place after beating Arago and Antonio, 20-21, 21-14, 21-18. A total of 12 pairs were entered in the men’s open doubles.

Azura said the championships in the men’s open singles and men’s open doubles notwithstanding, it was a fun and unforgettable experience being able to play with people who enjoy the sport as much as he does.

As for the strategy going into the men’s open doubles finals with Pangilinan, “We just discussed and figured out where and how to get the shuttle to the open areas of the court during game play thus leading to the win,” said the 29-yar-old Barney’s Pizza staff who dedicated his two championships to family, friends, his girlfriend, and fellow badminton players.

Jordan Pangilinan, meanwhile, said beating Guerrero and Macario was a real challenge.

“I’m just really glad that I am be able to still compete at this level with new opponents and defend the men’s doubles champion with my new partner, Jomari Azura. Likewise, having a new partner gave me an opportunity to improve my skills in badminton.”

He said communication was key to winning because it was the first time he and Azura teamed up together.

“Our strategy was to be on the offensive side as much as possible. We try and communicate with each other on what we should do to set up each other by making drops or doing drives in order for us to do our smash attacks.”

The 27-year-old Nutrition Assistance Program staff thanked her family, friends, and girlfriend Jadel Ignacio for all their support in his badminton hobby.