Carlos, Malibiran stay on collision course
TOP seed defending champion Bianca Carlos and No. 2 Patrisha Malibiran rolled to their second straight-set victories to storm into the quarterfinal round of the girls’ Under-19 class while No. 1 Clarence Filart and second ranked Miguel Leonardo led the Final 8 cast in the boys’ side of the MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) tournament at Powersmash in Makati City on Monday.
Carlos, eyeing a repeat sweep of the U-19 and Open singles titles, blasted Mary Ann Maranon with another superb all-around game, scoring a 21-10, 21-16 victory to seal a quarters clash with Alyssa Geverjuan, who repulsed fifth seed Cassandra Lim, 16-21, 21-18, 2113, in the upper half of the draw.
Malibiran, on the other hand, whisked off Janine Peligrino, 2112, 21-13, to arrange a quarters faceoff with No. 8 Marina Caculitan, who subdued Rae Concepcion in a thriller of a three-setter, 23-21, 18-21, 22-20.
No. 4 Janelle de Vera stamped her class over Dominique Muyrong, 219, 21-13, to forge a duel for a semis berth with Mariya Sevilla, who posted the other upset in the U-19 category by ousting No. 6 Louise Ramos, 21-13, 21-18.
Shane Salvador clipped Alfoneth Alcuitas, 21-9, 21-13, to clinch the other quarters berth in the country’s only ranking tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association and backed by the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine Sports Commission.
Filart, a Golden Shuttle Foundation mainstay like Carlos and Malibiran, scored a second walkover win, this time against Glenn Camillo, to lead the Final 8 cast in the boys’ U-19 singles, along with Leonardo, of Jaime Llanes Training Club, who tripped Edgard Reyes, 2116, 21-23, 21-11; Frell Gebuelo, who eased out Edrickson Malibiran, 2113, 21-9; Joshua Monterubio, who held off Jan Sinfuego, 21-16, 21-18; Elijah Boac, who overpowered Rogine Sola, 21-14, 21-12; Kevin Chan, who wore down Carl Clemente, 21-23, 21-10, 27-25; Glenn Remo, who thwarted Alexis Geverjuan, 21-19, 21-17; and fancied Mark Alcala, who smothered Jerickson Oba-ob, 21-12, 21-17.
Meanwhile, top-notch badminton action shifts to Robinsons Place-Manila beginning today as the title chase heats up with quarterfinals round matches in all divisions featuring members of the national team.
In girls’ U- 15 singles, Kyle Geronimo of MSI Jr. Team upended No. 8 Joyce Santos, 21-17, 11- 21, 21- 13, to barge into the quarterfinals against top seed Alyssa Geverjuan, who demolished Maria Tumbali, 21-9, 21-8.
Shane Salvador also ousted No. 4 Jellene de Vera, 21-12, 21-12, to set up a collision with No. 7 Meghan Cruz, who downed Ma. Lourdes Babanto, 21-14, 21-19; Alyssa Roxas of GSF surprised No. 6 Qianxi Orillaneda, 21-19, 22-20, for a showdown with No.3 Rae Concepcion, who beat Ghiselle Bautista, 21-13, 21-13; while second seed Mariya Sevilla smothered Stephanie Mortera, 21-7, 21-5, to arrange a clash with Mikaela de Guzman, who edged Beatrice Felizardo, 30-29, 17-21, 21-13.