NEWS

Agaloos-Toquero duo blanks Dagupan City smashers, 2-0; Ilocos Sur advances in

badminton thriller

CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur—SDO Ilocos Sur’s dynamic tandem, Reiza Lowen Agaloos and Precious Jewel Toquero, left no crumbs in the court after whitewashing SDO Dagupan City’s Toni Blake Lim and Jillieanne Gabrielle Bai, 2-0  (21-18, 23-21) during the Badminton Girls’ Doubles elimination round of the 2026 R1AA Meet, April 8.

The duo’s grind and dominance were on full display as they dictated the tempo of the game early on and smothered a tense second-set rally to seal their advancement.

"Pinaghandaan talaga namin ang larong ito at hindi kami nagpadala sa kaba kahit nung lumalayo na sila sa score. Ang nasa isip lang namin ay magtiwala sa isa't isa at huwag hayaang bumagsak ang shuttlecock sa court namin," Agaloos said.

SDO Dagupan City tried to change the momentum of the match when they surged to a commanding 10-5 lead in the second set, threatening to force a decider. 

Refusing to yield, Ilocos Sur orchestrated a massive comeback, fueled by Agaloo’s relentless smashes and Toquero’s clinical drop shots, clawing back to tie the game at 21-all before finally clinching the 23-21 win in a deuce-point thriller.

"I am incredibly proud of how the girls stayed composed, especially when they were trailing in the second set. They showed true grit by sticking to our defensive strategy and waiting for the right moment to counter-attack. Their resilience is what won them this match," Charo Gironella, coach, said.

With this victory, the Agaloos-Toquero duo is now set to face SDO San Carlos City as they continue their quest for R1AA gold.

via James Harley R. Giron & R1AA Media Team