Castilo, Alcala cruise to semis

MANILA, Philippines - Allied Victor-PCOME mainstays Gelita Castilo and Malvinne Alcala breezed past their rivals in emphatic fashions to coast to the semifinal round in their respective divisions in the Ming Ramos Youth Cup Victor Age Group Badminton Championships 2009 at Rizal Memorial Complex badminton hall yesterday.

The top-seeded Castilo, who bundled out Kimberly Gatpolintan, 21-16, 21-9, in the second round, dominated Pia Fabros with her power game, posting a 21-7, 21-6 rout to arrange a semis duel with fourth-ranked Anna Barredo in the girls U-17 division of the event sponsored by Victor-PCOME.

Barredo, who bested Ingrid Obnial, 21-7, 21-9, earlier, downed Alyssa Samaniego, 21-7, 21-4, while Nikki Servando and Cassandra Lim will dispute the other final berth in the lower half of the bracket of the tournament organized by the Philippine Badminton Association in honor of its president and former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos.

Servando, who stunned second seed Abigail Garcia, in the Last 16, thwarted Chicka Kumar, 21-18, 21-10, in the quarters while Lim, the ETC bet who turned backed Janelle de Vera, annexed her second straight three-set win with a 17-21, 21-6, 25-23 victory over Dia Magno.

Barredo, of Trace-Whackers, also made it to the semis in the premier U-19 division, as she trounced Reina Villacillo, 21-6, 21-3, to arrange a duel with third seed Danica Bolos, who scored a 21-8, 21-9 victory over Ynah Zapanta.

Servando also moved into the semis in the U-19, edging Pauline Tan, 21-19, 23-21, to set up a clash with the top seeded Alcala, who with Castilo led Team RP’s top 10 finish in the recent World Juniors. Alcala scored a walkover win over Desamay Arino.

Meanwhile, Alcala and Castilo led the quarterfinal cast in the U-19 girls doubles that includes the pairs of Flo Lamigo-Terence Pomar; Rhea Dagal-Yasmin Ignacio; Raechelle Almendras-Jackie Keyser; Mae Dilao-Marie Villacillo; Ellaine Malelang-Pauline Tan; Queen Francisco-Dessa Lim; and Danica Bolos-Gelli Ramos.

The fancied bets also continued to dominate the boys side with top ranked Paul Vivas leading the quarterfinalists in the U-19 class, along with RJ Ormilla, Ian Bautista, Ramon Dalo Jr., Luis Gomez, Ariel Magnaye, Randolph Balatbat and second seed Philip Escueta.

Meanwhile, Gerald Sibayan beat Jag Calbario, 21-13, 21-14, to advance to the semis in the boys’ U-17 against No. 4 Jose Martinez, who booted out Marius Zapanta, 21-16, 21-14.