STAR, ABS-CBN ahead in media badminton meet

Media giants Philippine STAR and ABS-CBN 2 lead the pack in the ongoing 2004 SMC Media Invitational Badminton Tournament, which resumes today at the Metro Badminton Court, Pasig City. Trailing the two teams in points is guest team SMC-Corporate Affairs Office (CAO).

Sporting a 3-0 win-loss slate to lead Division II following a 5-0 win over DWIZ last week, The STAR shuttlers are set to go up against the EJAP team today before heading for a semis stint in next week’s games.

In Division I, ABS-CBN routed Manila Times, 5-0, while erstwhile leader SMC-CAO beat Philippine Daily Inquirer, 3-2, following wins in the men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles events. Pending the results of their games today against RPN-9 and Manila Times, respectively, ABS-CBN and Inquirer appear poised to advance to the semifinals scheduled next week.

Other scheduled games today include matches between Manila Bulletin and SMC-CAO (Division I) and Manila Standard and IBC-13 (Division II).

The tournament semifinals slated on June 12 will pit the top two teams of both divisions in a crossover format, with the leader in each division facing the no. 2 team in the other division. The winning teams then advance to the finals in a do-or-die duel for the champion