MHS defends badminton title after finals thriller

Marianas High School Dolphins successfully won two titles in a row in the NMBA-PSS Co-ed High School Interscholastic Badminton League.

They defended their title and clinched the 2023-2024 championship against a formidable Saipan Southern High School Manta Rays in the final round, 3-2, last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

After a series of long volleys, the Dolphins secured the much-needed final point in the mixed doubles event to win the title. Abigael Robles and Brandon Manacop fought it out to the death as the Manta Rays’ Jude Burgos and Lallayne Torregosa came out full speed ahead with their coach egging them on in the sidelines.

In the end, Robles and Manacop won the match after three tough sets, 21-20, 15-21, 21-20, and brought the perpetual trophy back home to their campus in Susupe.

The path to the finals for the Dolphins was an undefeated one. They edged last season’s runner-up, Agape Christian School in the semis, 3-2, and bested SSHS 1, also 3-2, in the quarterfinals.

With Robles and Manacop were Charmaine Bautista, Marlon Bautista, Dave Odicta, Sernantie Jimenez, Prapti Mondal, Paulo Quidato, and Vianca Mangulabnan.

With Burgos and Torregosa were Mai Peteres, Shaina Malonzo, Mariel Hembra, Lency Sagarino, Yu Ling Chai, Nolan Nate, Jin Tao, and Trever Reyes.

Third place went to ACS after they fell to SSHS in the loser’s bracket semis and the double eliminations playoffs.

MHS badminton coach and teacher James Digno said the two-peat felt really good. “The kids have been training since last year. We started in the beginning of the school year and it really showed this year. They were able to defend the championship,” he said.

With the final match that determined the champion, he said, “It was a very close match.”

As for the strategy, it changed as the matches went on. “Just be ruthless, show no mercy. Keep attacking and keep the pressure on,” he said. “Southern did a very good job defending. They played their hearts out.”

On their win, Digno said he still couldn’t process all the emotions that came with it. With that, he said, “All the drama and training really paid off. Honestly, it’s all from them. I’m just there to support and they really worked hard,” said the MHS geometry teacher.

He then thanked TanHoldings, the Northern Marianas Badminton Association, and the CNMI PSS Athletics Program.

Before the awards ceremony, NMBA president Merlie Tolentino said a few words. She thanked all the tourney’s volunteers, line judges, and NMBA board members. She also announced that there will be the year’s first local badminton tourney this month and that in July, there are two international tournaments taking place on Saipan.