Castilo, Carlos remain on course for final showdown

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Gelita Castilo and Manila leg winner Bianca Carlos essayed a pair of one-sided triumphs to advance to the semifinal round of the women’s Open singles in the MVP Sports Foundation-Bingo Bonanza Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) tournament in Davao yesterday.

Antonino Gadi, back-to-back champion in the men’s Open singles, also towed three other fancied bets into the Final Four but two-leg winner Joper Escueta kissed his bid goodbye for a third victory in the boys’ 19-Under class when he retired due to cramps against Rabie Jason Oba-ob.

Castilo, eyeing a first leg crown after two runner-up finishes in the first two stages of the circuit put up by Vice President and Philippine Badminton Association president Jejomar Binay, Rep. Albee Benitez and businessman-sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan, bested Anaceli Gonzales, 21-7, 21-4, to set up a semis duel with Bianca Legaspi, who held off local bet Ginalee Daymiel, 21-14, 21-11.

Carlos, on the other hand, toppled Rosemarie Toto, 21-7, 21-5, to arrange a Final Four clash with Fatima Cruz, who booted out Joy Pacot, 21-10, 21-10, in the tournament backed by official equipment sponsor Victor, exclusively distributed by PCOME Industrial Sales, Inc.

Gadi whipped Charlo Tengco, 21-9, 21-8, for a semis collision with No. 4 Peter Magnaye, who subdued Aries delos Santos, 21-16, 21-14, while second seed Paul Vivas struggled past Ronel Estanislao, 27-25, 21-18, to reach the semis against Escueta, who thwarted Christopher Flores, 21-11, 17-21, 21-14, before he took on Oba-ob and retired in the boys’ U-19 event.

Against Oba-ob, Escueta took the first set but dropped the second before yielding the match at 13-21, 21-16, 2-1 (ret.). Oba-ob will face Jeffrey Foronda, who upset joint third seed Carlos Cayanan, 21-12, 21-8.

No. 2 Wilbert Natividad escaped with a 20-22, 21-5, 21-10 win over Alvin Morada to advance against Kevin Cudiamat, who downed Petronilo Nim Jr., 21-14, 21-10.

In the boys’ U-15 class, Patrick Gecosala shocked joint No. 3 Julius Quindoza, 21-17, 22-20, to barge into the semis against second seed Alvin Morada, who turned back Josh Martinez, 21-14, 21-14.

Top seed Markie Alcala moved within two wins from scoring a three-peat as he defeated Emilio Mangubat Jr., 21-15, 21-5, for a semis clash with joint third seed Joseph Manlalangit, who whisked off Patrick Sumabat, 21-8, 21-18.

Fancied Isabel Leonardo disposed of Carmela Zamora, 21-15, 21-19, to lead the semis cast in the girls U-15 side of the event supported by PLDT-Smart Foundation, Victor PCOME Industrial Sales, Gatorade and Powersmash with The Philippine STAR, TV5, Badminton Extreme Philippines Magazine, Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT and 103.5 WOW! as media partners.

Leonardo, who placed second in the first two legs of the four-stage national ranking circuit, will take on Manila leg champion Joella de Vera, who trounced Louise Ramos, 21-7, 21-2, while second seed Samantha Louise Ramos, winner of the Bacolod leg, routed Alyssa Geverjuan, 21-2, 21-6, to set up a semis duel with Amabel Sumabat, who beat Andrea Pamintuan, 21-7, 21-17.