CCC Valiants Badminton players carve rousing win

Written by Martin Roncales

Arabelle Grace Mahinay acquired the championship title in the badminton women’s division after closing out the game with a score of 21–8, 21–18, against Patricia Isabel Mitra of National University (NU)-Laguna.

Out of five institutions, Mahinay swept off all the badminton players from National University (NU)-Laguna, PHINMA-Rizal College of Laguna (RCL), Laguna College of Business and Arts (LCBA), and San Sebastian College Recoletos- Canlubang (SSC).

Mahinay has been playing badminton for nine years now, and as a freshman, this was her first time representing the institution in a badminton tournament.

When asked how she maintained a winning streak during the whole series, "...ang mindset ko lang po before and during the game is dapat hindi ako magpakampante sa lahat ng makakalaban ko at maging humble lang," Mahinay shared.

PULSING PRECISION. Arabelle Grace Mahinay calmly strikes back as she maintains score lead during the badminton singles women’s division held at INSPIRE Building, National University, April 23. (Photo by Jade Andrae Samiano)

In the men’s division, Joshua Alfred Ibañez won all his matches against RCL, LCBA and SSC-Canlubang.

In the championship game, CCC once again faced off NU-Laguna with Ibañez clinching second podium against Robin Christian Refrea of NU-Laguna.

Refrea showed no mercy on his consecutive drives and smashes causing Ibañez to fail to counterattack resulting with a score of 21–9, 21–7.

“Yung player ng NU mas may experience s[i]ya sa paglalaro ng badminton ,ginawa ko [naman] lahat ng best ko para maipanalo,” Ibanez on his consecutive lost of points.

HIT TO POINT. Joshua Alfred Ibañez delivers a backhand attack counterattacking the opponent during a match rally in the badminton singles men’s division, held April 23 at INSPIRE Building, National University. (Photo by Strawmile Villanueva)

Coach Marlon De Guzman expressed his delight at the result of the game emphasizing that they prepared enough, “Okay ako dun sa naging resulta ng game nila, kasi kita ko naman talagang binigay nila yung best nila during game. Home court mismo yun ng NU, kalaban namin [ay] NU parehas, men and women, so andun yung [advantage].”

According to Coach De Guzman, the CCC Valiants Badminton Team is hoping to expand its horizons beyond Calamba City competitions, as they are aiming to participate in the Local Colleges and Universities Athletics Association (LCUAA) Games. This move comes as players seek to elevate their game and represent their college on a broader platform.

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