Reversals mark FDG Cup start

PHILIPPINE-Team Prima’s Peter Magnaye and Cheska Bermejo and Team Robinsons’ Gabriel Villanueva Jr. and Flo Lamigo came away with a pair of reversals over the top two seeds to crash into the quarterfinals of the Open mixed doubles of the FDG Cup Open Badminton Championships at Powersmash in Makati Friday.

Magnaye and Bermejo shocked top seed Songphon Anugritayawan of Thailand and Jubie Vallarta, 17-21, 24-22, 21-17, while Villanueva and Lamigo stunned No. 2 Thai Samatcha Tovonnakasame and Saro Fullante, 20-22, 21-19, 21-19, in thrillers that marked the opener of the 10th staging of the event.

The two pairs sustained their impressive drive with Magnaye and Bermejo topping Marlon Villarin and Mia Villarin, 21-15, 21-18, to reach the Last 8 phase against fancied No. 6 Malvinne Alcala and Indon Samuel Paulus, who trounced Melvin Llanes and Danica Bolos, 21-10, 21-16.

Villanueva and Lamigo also progressed with a 21-16, 21-14 win over JC Benipayo and Anne Chen for a quarters duel with Gelita Castilo and Indon Yandi Sanusi, who also upended No. 7 Theodore Co and Indon Putri Medita, 15-21, 21-17, 21-13, in the three-day event held in honor of Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick D. Go.

Others who advanced were Paul Vivas-China’s Lili Wang, Wilfredo Amoroso Jr.-Jen Cayetano, Toby Gadi-Laura Choinet of France, and Indon Subhan Hasan and Bianca Carlos.