Vivas, Escueta arrange dream b'minton duel

MANILA, Philippines - Paul Vivas and Joper Escueta downed their respective rivals to arrange an explosive showdown for the men’s singles crown even as Malvinne Ann Alcala cruised to the ladies singles finals in the Philippine National Open-Ming Ramos Youth Camp Badminton Championships at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall yesterday.

Vivas bucked a poor start to put away Ralph Ian Mendez, 21-15, 21-14, while fellow national team player Escueta crushed national youth team mainstay John Monterubio, 21-12, 21-10, in the other men’s Open semifinals of the event sponsored by Victor/PCOME, Bingo Bonanza, Sun Cellular and the Philippine Sports Commission.

The top seeded Vivas had to endure a grueling quarterfinal battle against fellow national team mainstay Christopher Flores late Thursday, 21-22, 21-19, to reach the semis, while Mendez continued his string of upset wins with a stunning 21-19, 21-17 reversal over national team’s Kevin Cudiamat.

In the semis, the hard-working Mendez matched Vivas’ power and snatched a 9-8 lead in the first set. But the Whackers BA Li-Ning shuttler failed to sustain his charge in the face of Vivas’ mighty comeback in the tournament held in honor of former Philippine Badminton Association president Amelita “Ming” Ramos.

The 20-year-old Vivas, finally getting his range and his service game going, took charge with five unanswered points, 13-9, then strung up another seven-point spree to clinch the win in the tournament conducted by the PBA, headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay, chair Manny V. Pangilinan and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez.

In women’s open singles, Alcala hardly looked like she’s nursing a bum right knee as she downed Janelle Gloriane de Vera, 21-13, 21-17, to make the finals. She will go up against second seed Descka Calimlim, who turned back Jennifer Cayetano, 21-6, 21-12.

The 16-year-old Alcala sustained her injury during her stint in Germany juniors where she won silver. But the country’s top player vowed to dish out her best to retain the crown.

Her brother Mark Shelley Alcala drubbed Reden Cuden, 21-13, 21-16, to make the semis of the boys 19-under against Robert Aloyan who survived Carlo Glenn Remo, 21-14, 18-21, 21-16. Monterubio routed Paolo Santos, 21-14, 21-12, to likewise make the next round against Antonio Pacupia Jr., who shocked fifth seed Jose Lorenzo Yason, 21-7, 21-17.

De Vera bounced back in the girls’ 19-under by barging into the finals following an easy 21-14, 21-10 rout of Mary Ann Maranon. The Whackers Badminton Academy stalwart will take on Escoses Training Camp’s Cassandra Grace Lim who ousted Hannah Tudtud, 21-13. 21-19.