It hasn’t even been half a season, and it’s already clear that varsity badminton is thriving in the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL) Ocean Division. The Panthers remained undefeated after a 30-0 victory over Terra Nova High School on Thursday, March 20 at Bintang Badminton. Even with a stellar 6-0 regular season record, Burlingame’s dominance is more than just numbers—they’ve handily beaten nearly every opponent they’ve faced thus far.
The team has delivered strong performances in singles and doubles and has held multiple opponents scoreless in their matchups. Points are determined in each competition based on the rank of the singles player and doubles duo on the team ladder, with athletes competing in high spots earning more with a victory. To keep the Tigers scoreless, the Panthers won all 15 they competed in.
Throughout the contest, Burlingame showcased their skills in every match. Their success began with victories from their top-ranked players, which helped relieve pressure for the less experienced players in later matches.
“If they win their game, it gives the people playing later a little less pressure, because we would be claiming three points so it gives us a bigger chance of winning the overall game,” senior captain Ashley Zheng said.
Of the players who cruised to victory, Zheng’s outcome was particularly noteworthy. Zheng and her partner Brandon Mark were formidable throughout, dominating their opponents 21-7 and 21-13 early on.
Aside from skill, Zheng believes the Panthers’ strong communication and positive encouragement gives them an advantage over their opponents.
“I think for our team, we rely a lot on just practicing more and team encouragement when we’re playing games, we often cheer for each other, other schools may not do that,” Zheng said.
Head coach Sal Banquiles was thrilled with his team’s performance against Terra Nova and has enjoyed watching his squad’s success in all their games this season.
“I’m happy because everybody’s performing really well, [the team] is performing really well, [they keep on] beating other schools,” Banquiles said.
Banquilles attributed the team’s hot start this season to increased training as well as standout play from freshman Alvin Feng Heng Ho, who Banquilles said has exceeded expectations thus far this season.
“I have a really good freshman player, [Feng Heng Ho]. He is undefeated right now. He [is] really good,” Banquiles said.
Despite playing against difficult and older competition as a freshman, Feng Heng Ho is confident regardless of who he is facing.
“I feel very confident in my skills during the competition… I feel very light-hearted because [I believe] I am going to win,” Feng Heng Ho said.
While the team was demoted to the Ocean Division this year, Feng Heng Ho believes the team can return to the PAL Bay Division next season and do more than hold their own.
“We have already beat two of the five teams in the [Bay division in scrimmages], I think we’re very capable of achieving great [results],” Feng Heng Ho said.
