SSHS seizes badminton champs

Saipan Southern High School Manta Rays racked up two championships in one day—the co-ed va’a outrigger title, then the 2024-2025 PSS-NMBA Interscholastic Co-Ed High School Badminton League title right after on an overcast yet electric Saturday morning.

The shuttlers of SSHS 1 dethroned two-time defending champion Marianas High School as they racked up the most points in the overall standings with 19. MHS 1 were right behind for silver at 18 points, while Agape Christian School finished third with 12 points.

In the final games at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, the Manta Rays clinched the win over MHS 2, 4-1, to seal their points for the title.

Before their win against MHS 2, SSHS 1 beat ACS 2, also at 4-1.

MHS 1 wasn’t far behind in the tally, as they beat ACS 2, 4-1, and Saipan International School 3, 4-1. However, it wasn’t enough to pull ahead of SSHS 1, handing them the title by just one point.

After the finals, SSHS 1 coach Daniel Macario, and co-captains Shaina Malonzo and Jude Mallari were interviewed.

Macario said of their championship win, “everything that went through this was hard work from my players. My players definitely earned it, my players put in that work… they come ready to win… I give them all the credit.”

For Malonzo, a sophomore and junior national badminton pool player, she said, “it feels great. I actually was doubting myself and my team because seeing most of MHS had [national] players, and we only had two. But seeing how we won, it makes me so happy, and I’m going to miss this team because most of them are seniors.”

For Mallari, who is also a sophomore, he also said it felt good to beat MHS since they won the title twice in a row. “It feels good to finally beat them and become champions,” he said.

Macario added that Nolan Nate’s win against MHS was a turning point in the game. “He was down, but he never stopped fighting. That guy really pulled through for our team… big congrats and recognition to our singles player and to our whole team. I want to name everybody but everyone did their part; the biggest challenge was MHS and I wanted to give Nolan that recognition,” said Macario.

Macario then said, “I want to thank the whole team, not just our varsity, even our JV—they put in the work too. Big thanks to my two captains. Shaina really put in that work. They stayed undefeated this whole season, and carried all her games. Jude also taking the lead in the guys side… this guy really pulled through for us.”

With Malonzo, Mallari, and Nate on the team were Joannahlyn Concillado, Lallayne Torregosa, Shanna Villaluz, Tao Jin, and Simon Tang.