JV Regional open badminton finals: Soronda, Yusikee score upsets

Upsets highlighted the final round as defending champions yielded their respective thrones to their rivals in the JVC Regional Open Badminton Championships at the Holiday Spa Badminton Center.

Men's elite defending champion Spyro Mijares of the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) wilted early in the semifinal round to finish third along with Elizen Yac of University of the Visayas (UV).

The championship trophy went to Karl Soronda of University of San Carlos, who defeated Adrian Ardiza of UV, 21-18, 21-4.

Soronda, who received a cash prize of P5,000 and some gift packs from the sponsors, will lead the Cebu team to the JVC Open Badminton Championships in Manila.

Ardiza, for his efforts, received P3,000 and gift packs

Soronda also extended his dominance, this time in the mixed doubles as he paired with Yugean Yusikee to win the title over Jonathan Olofernes and Hazel Blyth Peroy of UC.

But Mijares and partner Solito Flores rebounded to win the title in the doubles event, beating the pair of Arthur Dignos and Gabriel Suico of UV.

The distaff side also saw the downfall of defending champion Hazel Blyth Peroy of University of Cebu, who failed to match the wits of Yugean Yusikee, 21-14, 21-11.

Yedah Fornoles and Leah Kathleen Ganaden were the second runner-up finishers.

Peroy, later, seek successful redemption in the doubles event together with Irish Olofernes to win the title over Gina Juan of Courtyard and Jesselle Solivas of Portside.

The final round in the Juniors 16 and under also produced new champions. James Bell Rizon of UC defeated Clint Angelo Armamento of USJ-R to win the boy's title while Mary Rose Montebon of USJ-R dumped Jewel Amor Coliamat of UV.

The second runner-up in the boys side are Joe Charles Marigomen of UV and John Roy Densing of UC while the girls side third placers are Celia Marie Kimberly Li and Josie Coca of UV.

Rizon also paired up with Densing to clinch the title in the boys doubles, stamping their class over Armamento and Nino Paul Palacio.

The girls division doubles title went to Montebon and partner Chris Therese Lomotos after they defeated Celia Marie Kimberly Li and Jennylyn Li.

The mixed doubles champion is the tandem of John Roy Densing and Jean Lepaopao with Mark Ian Araneta and Montebon getting the first runner-up honors.

The collegiate team competition saw the victories of UC in the women's and USJ-R in the men's.

The UC team is composed of Yedah Fornoles, Hazel Blyth Peroy, Rojane Lisondra and Irish Olofernes while USJ-R is made up of Junior Coca, Patrick Duarte, Solito Flores and Spyro Mijares.

The Cebu leg will be followed up on April 17-21 at the Excel Badminton Club in Pampanga, May 1-5 at the Wheel 'N More Badminton Club in Davao City and on May 15-19 at the Pohang Badminton Center in Bacolod City.

The JVC regionals is sponsored by JVC, Victor (exclusively distributed by Pcome Industrial Sales), Lactacyd and Bingo Bonanza and backed by The Star, Pinoy Exchange, Pioneer Life, Sunbolt, Alaska, Handford and Cebu Holiday Spa, Pohang Badminton Center, Wheels 'N More Badminton Courts and Excel Badminton Center.