NMI bags debut win in Pacific U15 badminton

Article from Marianas Variety (mvariety.com)

THE NMI U15 National Badminton Team is off to a strong start in the Pacific U15 Invitational Team Challenge 2025, emerging victorious in their debut match against Wallis & Futuna, 3-2, at the North Harbour Badminton Centre in Auckland, New Zealand on Monday.

The NMI’s Evan Seguritan bested Wallis & Futuna’s Noah Likuvalu in a three-set thriller.

In the first set, Seguritan showcased his dominance as he outscored Likuvalu, 21-14. However, the tables were turned in the second set with Likuvalu controlling the tempo and beating Seguritan, 21-13.

In the third and final set, Seguritan managed to finish strong to pull away with the win against Likuvalu, 21-18.

In the girls singles event, Wallis & Futuna’s Ana Nau bested the NMI’s Danielle Joson in two sets, 21-12, 21-9.

However, the NMI regained the upper hand in the boys doubles event thanks to the teamwork of Benjamin Cai and Thaddaeus Tolentino, who defeated Wallis & Futuna’s Alfred Bourgade and Chrys Tuikalpea in two sets, 21-17, 21-16.

Team NMI then solidified their victory in the girls doubles as Joson and Breanna Lopez came out on top in a three-set battle against Wallis & Futuna’s Teulagi Lenoir and Lelei Saliga, 21-18, 17-21, 21-10.

The NMI still had one more chance to add another win in the mixed doubles event, but Seguritan and Lopez were outplayed by Wallis & Futuna’s Likuvalu and Nau, 21-15, 21-14.

Nevertheless, the NMI still outscored Wallis & Futuna in match points, 3-2.