CISTM Pythons’ Navarro strikes gold, rules PLM Intramurals men’s badminton singles

The College of Information Systems and Technology Management (CISTM) Pythons seized the championship crown as Denzel Mhiko Navarro showed precision and control to defeat Mark Lenard Tagalogon of the College of Engineering (CE) Knights, 35–21, in the men’s badminton singles finale at Rajah Sulayman Gymnasium, Oct. 23.

Navarro showed composure and precision from the opening serve, immediately establishing control and an early advantage, putting pressure on Tagalogon to keep up with his opponent’s unyielding pace.

Despite several attempts to trim the gap, Navarro’s superior shot placement proved too much to overcome; every time the Knights mounted a comeback, the Pythons’ athlete intensified his play by widening the gap and keeping momentum firmly on his side.

With the crowd watching and cheering closely, Navarro remained poised until the final point, sealing an impressive 35–21 victory and securing the championship crown for the Pythons.

The road to the championship was equally challenging for the Pythons. In the semifinal round, CISTM faced off against the College of Accountancy (CA) Great Hawks’ Mark Alfred Mipa in a high-stakes encounter, where Navarro successfully earned a shot at the title, 35–16.

Meanwhile, the CA Great Hawks bounced back in the battle for third place, securing the bronze medal after defeating the College of Medicine (CM) Serpents’ Judge Rogine Mores, 35–23.

With Navarro leading the way, the CISTM Pythons concluded the competition as men's badminton singles champions, capping off a memorable campaign with a dominant performance in the championship match.