Chiu, Piencenaves cop JVC singles crowns

Irene Chiu gifted herself a big birthday present when she outclassed Alma Ledesma, 21-10, 21-12, to capture the ladies singles crown while Ian Piencenaves fashioned out a similar straight-set 21-9, 21-13 victory over Christopher Flores to pocket the men’s plum in the elite masters of the P1 million JVC Open Badminton Championships at Glorietta yesterday.

Chiu, who will turn 22 on Wednesday, dished out another solid performance, seizing control early with her power game and brilliant winners as the RCT Badminton Academy mainstay coasted to the trouble-free victory. Chiu, runner-up to Kennie Asuncion last year, thus won the top P35,000 purse plus other gift items, among them from the sponsoring JVC (PHILS.), Inc.

Piencenaves, playing out of Butuan Badminton Club, followed up his big upset three-set win over top seed Lloyd Escoses in the semis with a masterful victory over Flores for his second triumph in four years after ruling the 2003 edition of the event long considered as the national championships. He also took home the top P35,000 purse.

But it was Francesca Bermejo and Rina Batuigas who provided the day’s biggest thrill as they slugged it out in a no-holds-barred contest from the opening serve to the delight of the big weekend crowd who cheered both players for every point scored and every shot saved.

When the smoke of the battle cleared, the 16-year-old Bermejo emerged the victor, clinching the hard-earned 20-22, 21-15, 24-22 win when Batuigas, from the Iloilo Valiant Badminton Club, slammed his weak backhand return into the net, giving the Assumption College’s bet the win worth P12,000 plus gift items.

Antonino Gadi of Golden Shuttle Foundation outplayed Battledore’s Andrei Babad in the third set to fashion out a 21-12, 18-21, 21-8 victory and claim the crown worth P12,000 in the men’s elite category.

Piencenaves later teamed up with Liza Sormillo of UP and turned back the Jaime Junio-Chiu pair to pocket the mixed doubles title also worth P35,000.

Meanwhile, The Philippine STAR and Meralco dispute the corporate crown, and the top P50,000 purse, starting at 12:30 p.m. today with the Starmen eyeing a second straight championship in the event backed by Bacchus Energy Drink, Lactacyd, Snickers Chocolates, Pioneer Life, LTIME studio, Lifestyle Watch Store and Alaska.

Ronnel Estanislao and Ralph Hidalgo, on the other hand, clash for the title in the juniors division with Karyn Velez of GSF and Gelita Castillo of Centro Atletico battling for the girls crown and the top prize of P8,000 staked in the event also supported by Ayala Center, The Philippine STAR, Accel, Sunbolt, PowerSmash, Pinoy Exchange, Solar Sports and Magic 89.9.

Other winners were Ronald Daymiel/Ginalee Daymiel (elite-MXD), Jeanette Banquiles/Marife Durana (veteran-masters/WD), Ricky Morales/Naresh Ramnani (veterans-masters/MD), Naresh Ramnani/Jeanette Banquiles (vet-masters/MXD), Manrick Zalamea/Jofer Velez (vet-non-pro/MD), Elaine Lao/Marife Durana (vet-non-pro/WD), JD de Jesus/Elaine Lao (vet-non-pro/MXD).