Alayan leads Toby's Youth winners

Fifth seed Michael Rodney Alayan of Alpha Angelicum/Dunlop/Whackers upended No. 3 Alberto Aldaba of De La Salle-Zobel, 21-14, 21-16, to lead the early winners into the round of 16 in the 16-under boys’ singles action in the sixth Toby’s Youth Badminton Championships yesterday at the West Drive Badminton court in Pasig City.

Alayan, who took a bye in the opening round last Saturday, breezed past seventh seed Chris Mooray Canlapan of BYC, 21-3, 21-4, in the round-of-64 before ripping past 16th seed JC Gutierrez of Aztex in the next round.

Gutierrez downed 13th seed Jason Serafica of BYC and toppled No. 9 Francis Alejo of ETC-YBC, 21-9, 21-16, to arrange a duel with Alayan.

Also gaining round-of-16 berths were John Kenneth Arciaga of Alpha Angelicum, Paul Benjamin Agregado of Elizabeth Seton/WWGBA, Ivan Angsico of Aztec/RAQ4COCK, Patrick Natividad of UAP/Golden Shuttle Foundation, Virgil Allen del Mundo of College Monterel de Pila/Dunlop/Whackers, Jose Nej Martinez of Colegio Monterel/Court 12, Kevin Suarex of ETC-YPBC, Brent Rafalles Wu of Philippine Cultural College, Charlo Tengco of STCJA/Golden Shuttle Foundation and Philip Joper Escueta of Colegio Monterel de Pila/Dunlop/Whackers.

In the 16-under girls singles, top seed Jessalam Sampurna of CGEAHS/Battledore also drew a bye in the opening round, before defeating third seed Pamela Sargan of Assumption College, 21-8, 21-9. Sampurna will next face fifth seed Dorinne Go of DLS-Lipa, who also drew a bye in the opener before defeating No. 8 Margareth Limgenco of Magnaye BC, 21-19, 21-17.

The two-week tournament is presented by Toby’s Sports and Dunlop and backed by Slazenger, Gold’s Gym, Gerflor Taraflex, Hershey’s Chocolates, SM Megamall, West Drive Badminton Center, Yellow Cab, Crumpler Bags, Equipe, Kontrol USA, Thermos, Burlington Socks, Action & Fitness Magazine, Wave 89.1 and Mellow 94.7.