Star, Meralco retain badminton crowns

The Philippine Star and Meralco triumphed as expected Sunday to retain their respective crowns in the fourth Sportshouse-Dunlop Corporate Invitational Badminton Cup at the Atrium Building of SM Megamall.

The Starmen overpowered Meralco, 3-1, to retain the Corporate Masters title in the weeklong tournament organized by former Olympian Weena Lim, sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association and sponsored by Sportshouse and Dunlop Slazenger Group.

With the reliable Alex Cuevas and Rey Selga at the helm, Meralco scored a 3-0 rout of Celestron to win the Corporate Classic title, also for the second straight year.

The Celebrity title went to Angelu de Leon and Antonio Aquitana, who defeated the pair of Ruby Rodriguez and Randy Santiago, to complete a four-game sweep of the division that featured leading movie and television stars.

The Star shuttlers struck through Casey Ang-Siy and Dalia Santiago in the ladies 21 to 34 years category, Marife Durana and Jhona Magnaye in the 35 and above division and Brandon Chan and Ricky Morales in the 35 and above as it finished the tournament unbeaten.

Cuevas and Selga prevented the Starmen from sweeping the best-of-five tie when they defeated Martin Araneta and William Gabuelo, 24-21, 22-20, in what eventually became the most interesting, hard-fought match in the day.

Winning it for Meralco in the Masters were Kathleen Anasco and Dianah Barbo who defeated Princess Ruth Moldogo and Beverly Banatlao, 21-13, 21-14; Selga and Cuevas who downed Joseph Cagitla and Al Masakayan, 21-15, 21-5 and Ger Solidum and Flor Vivas who whitewashed Bamby de Vera and Joan Fineza, 21-0, 21-0.

Sexy star Ara Mina and Mark Aquino beat Lotlon de Leon and Jake Roxas, 21-11, to salvage second place in the Celebrity Cup.