Vivas, Rivera awesome in JVC badminton

JVC badminton boys singles Paul Vivas and Roden Rivera dominated their respective rivals in overpowering fashion to show the way in the first round of the boys singles event of the JVC Open Badminton 14-under Championships at the SM Megamall Saturday.

Vivas showed too much class and blanked Frank Ong, 15-0, 15-0, the same score posted by Rivera in thumping Manuel Gayao at the start of the featured division of the tournament exclusively for players 14-years-old and below.

Also advancing to the next round of the JVC-sponsored event were Gerard Certeza, Raymond Banez, Ramon Guerrero, Christopher Pilones, Rustum Caunga, Craig Lucas, Raymond Alonzo, Peter Magnaye, John Patriwirawan, Patrique Magnaye, Angelito Flores, Jed Perez, Peter Tuliao and Randolph Balatbat.

Certeza held off Edgar de Jesus, 15-0; Banez survived John Pasicolan, 15-4, 15-11; Guererro scored a 15-3, 15-7 win over Yrjo Galvez; Pilones swamped Raphael Regero, 15-1, 15-1; Caunga won over Christian Labaquis, 15-0, 15-2; Lucas pulled off a 15-8, 15-5 decision over Joseph Paredes; Peter Magnaye beat Raphael Hidalgo, 15-6, 15-11; Alonzo whipped James Javier, 15-1, 15-1; Patriwirawan stopped Timothy Garcia, 15-1, 15-7; Patrique Magnaye tripped Bryon Trambulo, 15-0, 15-2;

Flores bundled out Kyle Vinarao, 15-9. 15-9; Perez won over Miguel Balasbas, 15-6, 15-5; Tuliao downed Jed Pantanila, 15-4, 15-1; and Balatbat foiled Don Agustin, 15-3, 15-3.

Meanwhile, hostilities in the girls’ singles are being played at presstime.

SM Southmall in Las Piñas will host the third round on May 22-23 with the semifinals and the finals set May 28-29 at the SM Megamall, which will also host a celebrity tournament on May 30.

The event, actually a prelude to the JVC National Open Championships, is organized by IMG and supported by Alaska, Accel, Gosen, Toby’s Sports, Pioneer Insurance, Lactacyd, Tokyo Tokyo, The Philippine STAR, Agfa and Rudy Project.

To further help popularize and develop the sport, JVC has tapped the various SM malls for the event, including in Cebu and Iloilo where a series of clinics and exhibition matches will be held.

Launched last month at the SM North EDSA, the badminton clinics and exhibition matches will be held in Cebu on May 8-9 and in Iloilo on May 15-16.