Mandaue City Claims Overall Badminton Crown at CVIRAA 2026 Tournament
In a stunning display of athletic prowess, Mandaue City emerged as the undisputed champion in badminton at the CVIRAA 2026 competition, which concluded on Wednesday, March 25, at the Cebu City Sports Center gymnasium. The city's triumph was built on a foundation of exceptional performances across both secondary and elementary divisions, solidifying its reputation as a powerhouse in regional sports.
Secondary Division Sweep Secures Championship
Mandaue's path to victory was paved with dominance in the secondary division, where the team achieved a remarkable clean sweep of all events. In the boys' singles final, Vince Kerdy Rio showcased resilience by overcoming a first-set loss to defeat teammate Hanz Richard Diaz with scores of 14-21, 21-12, 21-16, earning the gold medal. Meanwhile, in the girls' singles, Nica Ysabel Gulpany delivered a commanding performance, easily besting Talisay City's Friday Rose Cabo 21-7, 21-4 to claim the title.
The doubles events further highlighted Mandaue's superiority. The pair of Lloyd Erynz Rosema and Jermielle Andrae Rolos secured the boys' doubles gold after a decisive victory over Cebu City's Prince Venzelle Belarmino and Jush Espaldon, with scores of 21-9, 21-15. In the girls' doubles, Ellaikha Marie Carnillo and Therese Gail Cosido added another gold to Mandaue's tally by defeating Cebu City's Irish Maxene Arellano and Honey Lovely Maetampos 21-18, 21-16.
Completing the sweep in the secondary division, the mixed doubles team of Rosema and Gulpany triumphed over Naga City's Jason Gaudioso Navales and Lyla Sleaze Canonigo 21-14, 21-7, before going on to defeat Cebu City's Laurence John Daganasol and Mercy Lyn Cutamora 21-15, 21-13 in the finals.
Elementary Division Contributions and Strong Performances from Other Teams
Mandaue also made significant strides in the elementary division, with Jhenryl Cedrie Seno capturing the gold in girls' singles and the duo of Althea Grace Alfar and Ysabella Cosido ruling the girls' doubles event. These victories underscored the city's depth of talent across age groups.
Other teams demonstrated strong performances throughout the tournament. Bohol Province dominated the elementary boys' singles, as Dayne Glanz Cesar defeated Bench Zoilo Casenas 21-17, 21-7. Danao City claimed victory in the boys' doubles through Xavier Barral and Elthon John Mandifol. Additionally, Cebu City's Amare Celestine Archival and Lance Gabriel Acaba secured a gold medal in the elementary mixed doubles after a hard-fought win over Mandaue's Seno and Prince Eric Montes, with scores of 21-18, 21-17.
The CVIRAA 2026 badminton tournament not only highlighted Mandaue City's athletic excellence but also showcased the competitive spirit and skill of participants from across the region, making it a memorable event for all involved.
