EMERGING talents Jamal Pandi and Althea Dawn Ocampo led the victors of the 2023 Philippine Badminton Association Juniors Regional Badminton Series, with the successful conclusion of the Pampanga leg on Sunday at the Delta Badminton Center in San Fernando.
At just 16 years old, Pandi secured not one, but two titles, emerging triumphant in both the boys’ U-19 and U-17 categories in this tournament, which received support from the Philippine Sports Commission and Pampanga Governor Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda.
The rising star of Smash Pilipinas out of Cagayan de Oro defeated Robert Ishmael Ramos 21-19, 21-19, and Manuel Nhito Fulmentera 21-13, 21-11, to secure the respective titles.Meanwhile, Ocampo, who hails from Misamis Oriental, overcame Christal Rei Fuentespina in a showdown of national team members, prevailing 21-19, 14-21, 21-19, to clinch the U-19 girls’ crown in this three-day event, backed by esteemed sponsors Protech PH, Reckitt/Lysol, Pocari Sweat, Alaska, A2Z Customs, Cignal TV, SMART, and FMKD.
However, Fuentespina rebounded with a victory in the U-17 girls’ singles, defeating Gweneth June Chiva 21-4, 21-13.
The tournament aligns with the Philippine Badminton Association’s grassroots development initiative and also serves as a platform for the ranking system being established by the national sports federation.
Christian Dorega and Mark Anthony Bernal fought tenaciously against Ethan Josh Dupet and Marcjoel Clarence Perez, securing the U-19 boys’ doubles title with a score of 22-20, 21-16.
Althea Princess Hernandez and Precious Dianne Libaton breezed past Jhiane Sabarillo and Rehina Zoey Denise Bayudang 21-7, 21-7, to claim the girls’ doubles title in the same age group.
Hernandez partnered with Shan Clar to earn her second title of the day, the U-19 mixed doubles, where they narrowly defeated Gift Resuello Linaban and Libaton 21-15, 21-17.
