P1-M JVC Open heats up at Glorietta

Eight teams, which survived the grueling eliminations, fight it out for berths in the semifinal round in the corporate division of the JVC Open Badminton Championships, which kicks off the final week of the P1 million event at the Glorietta Activity Center today.

AB Leisure flaunted its vaunted form and blanked Prudential Life, 3-0, the same score posted by Robinson’s Land Corp., Meralco and defending champion Philippine Star over ABS-CBN, Toyota and Ayala Land, respectively, to virtually assure their stint in the next round where play shifts from a three-game contest to a five-match competition with emphasis on the mixed doubles with three games on tap.

The order of play in today’s quarterfinal round will be the first mixed doubles, men’s doubles, ladies doubles, the second and third mixed doubles. Games start at 11 a.m. with the winners advancing to the semis slated on July 6 along with the semis matches in the elite division.

In other results, Accenture, RCBC, Makati Medical Center and Fortune Tobacco defeated Chevron, HSBC, Pagcor and ADB, respectively, via similar 2-1 scores to advance to the quarterfinal round of the event sponsored by JVC (PHILS.), Inc.

Hideyuki Takato, president and CEO of the sponsoring JVC (PHILS.), Inc., will deliver the welcome remarks during the opening rites at 1 p.m. Other guests are Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, JVC Phils. general manager Kazue Salud, Nolyn Cabahug and Aggie Barredo.

Meanwhile, top seed Lloyd Escoses of FEU scored a walkover win over Heildenberg Dimarucot to lead the quarterfinal cast in the men’s elite masters. It includes Owen Lopez, former champion Ian Piencenaves, Rodel Bartolome, Jaime Junio, Christopher Flores, Melvin Llanes and second seed Arolas Amahit.

Irene Chiu of RTC Badminton, on the other hand, tows the field in the ladies side along with Julie Hilador, Ronnielie Kagalingan, Karyn Velez, Chona Rivera, Jerlie Kagalingan, Rose dela Cruz and second-ranked Alma Ledesma.

Ronnel Estanislao pulled off a big reversal in the elite division, beating top seed Stanley Magaspac, 14-21, 21-9, 21-16, to set up a quarterfinal duel with Emmanuel Garcia, who repulsed Joel Estrada, 21-13, 17-21, 21-16. Others who advanced were Antonino Gadi, Joffre Arollado, Ronald Daymiel, Raphael Sanchez, Andrei Babad and Kevin Dalisay.

Rochanie Decatora also scored an upset over No. 1 Samanthan Huang, 15-21, 21-9, 21-18, to reach last 8 of the women’s singles. The other quarterfinalists were Malvinne Alcala, Lisa Encarnacion, Rina Batuigas, Franchesca Bermejo, Charo Rivera, Diosan Abanggan and Jacquiline Cudia.

In junior play, James Rizon of Cebu foiled a projected showdown of the Magnaye brothers for the crown when he upended top seed Peter, 21-17, 18-21, 21-18, to barge into the semis round against No. 6 Ronnel Estanislao.