Santorio-Franca tandem bags class C crown

CHRISTIAN Santorio and Jimboy Franca defeated the heavily favored pair of  Jed Sumalinog and Christian Dale Bitor in the finals of the men’s doubles class C competition of the 7th Thirsty Cup Badminton last Saturday at the Metrosports Center.

Sumalinog is a former varsity player of the University of San Jose-Recoletos. He and his teammate were favored in their class but Santorio and Franca had other plans as they took home the P4,000 purse with a hard-earned win.

Sumalinog and Bitor won P1,500 for their runner-up finish.

Santorio bagged his second title after he teamed up with Mq Francisco in the mixed doubles class C  defeating the tandem of Jr Bergantin and Trisha Uy in the finals.

The win bagged Santorio and Francisco another P4,000.

Lyca Roma and Nash Saycon, meanwhile, lorded the men’s doubles class D after winning over Janick Parot and Clyde Babela in the finals.

Michelle Fernandez and Diana Balungcas beat Japanese Chieko Saito and Richelle Ting to top the women’s doubles class D.

Parot bounced back as he and Lizlee Libato dominated the class D mixed doubles after winning over Ej Arquillano and  Veronica Floro.

Andres and Louie Kuizon meanwhile topped the men’s doubles Class E while Libato also topped the ladies class E doubles after she paired up with Lilybeth Stinger./CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL