Villaceran, Hipolito gain Epson semis

The STAR’s Melody Villaceran and Jojo Hipolito smashed their way to the semifinal round of the Epson Cup 2 Badminton Championships, sweeping their preliminary games to top the Class A division in the doubles event at the Olympic Badminton Club in Libis, Quezon City.

Villaceran and Hipolito, who are using this tournament as a tune-up for the keenly-awaited JVC Open Badminton Championships, whipped Cathy Escasinas and Kat Kuan, 15-10, 15-6, then showed no mercy in outclassing the tandem of Boots Quilala and Eleanor Tesorero to lead cast in the elite ladies doubles.

The event takes a four-day break before the championship stage begins during the weekend at the Greenhills Badminton Center in San Juan. The survivors fight for a finals berth in the crossover semifinals.

Meanwhile, pre-tournament favorites Alex Cuevas and Renel Bernaldo lived up to their billing to advance to the semis of the men’s doubles.

Cuevas, the current non-ranking men’s national champion, and Bernaldo slipped past the duo of Gener Godoy and Alex Bartolay, 15-8, 13-15, in the Class A to enter the next round undefeated.

The other semifinalists were Gabby Nepomuceno and Jeff Tablante, and the tandem of Jere Fregil and Anthony Samonte. Godoy and Bartolay also qualified due to a higher aggregate score.

Kuan and Escasinas also made it into the next phase of Class A ladies division together with Wowie Agustin and Susan Luminarias and the duo of Quilala and Tesorero.

Kuan and Escasinas subdued Agustin and Luminarias, 15-12, 15-7, to secure the last semifinal ticket in the event sponsored by Shell, Wilson, Citibank, Apple Center, Konica, Mizuno, UNO Magazine and Fitness First.

Epson Cup 2 is sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association and also supported by Chowking Madison Square, PBNet, Yehey.com, BHM, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Ridgewood Hotel-Baguio.

In mixed doubles, actress Beth Tamayo and Paul Macatangay joined Sheila Ambray and Bon Dulay; Fay Santos and Olan Ordonez; Kristine Cinco and Dion Guanio; Chona Malaso and Shernan Olalia, Ui Mendoza and JV Madrid; Glenda Laserna and Adrei Rivera; and Kathy Kuan and Gerry Escara in the Class B semifinal round.

Making it to the next round of the ladies group are many-time Pioneer badminton champion Joy Balcita and Debbie Madrid (Class B), Helen Tam and Jean Kho (Class C), Malou Santos and Lindsay Jacobo (Class D) and Badette Domingo and Lindsay Jacobo (Class E).