Castilo, Carlos rip rivals, gain semifinals

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Gelita Castilo and fellow Golden Shuttle Foundation mainstay No. 2 Bianca Carlos trampled their respective rivals in straight-set fashions to cruise to the semifinal round of the ladies open’s singles even as reversals marred the MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) circuit at the Metro Sports Center in Lahug, Cebu City yesterday.

Castilo, who swept past Camille Gotohio, 21-4, 21-8, in the Last 16 stage, overwhelmed Annelyn Alba of Valiant Badminton Club with her power game as she came away with a 21-6, 21-12 romp to set up a semis clash with A’s team No. 7 Jen Cayetano, who upset fourth seed Ellaine Malelang, 21-10, 21-17.

Carlos, on the other hand, followed up her 21-8, 21-14 romp over Danica San Ignacio with a 21-13, 21-14 victory over Kim Mayono to arrange a Final Four duel with third seed Bianca Legaspi, who turned back Kristina Tan, 12-21, 21-16, 21-17, in the premier class of the event sponsored by GOAL Pilipinas and organized by the Philippine Badminton Association.

In men’s Open singles, Jose Benipayo shocked Paul Vivas, pouncing on the second seeded bet’s erratic game to hack out a thrilling 14-21, 22-20, 21-19 victory in the third round. But the 12th-ranked Benipayo failed to sustain his charge and dropped a 16-21, 21-23 setback to No. 11 Andrei Babad, who advanced to the semis against No. 13 Ralph Ian Mendez, who upended No. 10 Jason Obaob, 21-16, 21-18.

Top seed defending four-leg champion Toby Gadi breezed through the semis of the event, backed by official equipment sponsor Victor, exclusively distributed in the Phl by PCOME Industrial Sales, Inc., with a 21-15, 21-11 romp over Kevin Dalisay to arrange an explosive showdown with third seed and fellow national team mainstay Peter Gabriel Magnaye, who survived No. 14 Christopher Flores, 12-21, 22-20, 21-14.

Carlos, meanwhile, also reached the semis of the girls’ Under-19 with a 21-11, 21-10 win over Samantha Ramos. She will take on a surging Whackers BA Marina Caculitan, who bundled out No. 4 Shaina Osorio then ousted joint sixth seed Nicole Magno, 21-19, 21-19.

Second seed Elisha Ongcuangco defeated Selina San Diego, 21-15, 21-18 to set up the other semis clash with Patrisha Malibiran, who stopped giant-killer Janel Dihiansan, 21-17, 21-18, in the event backed by Gatorade, Krav Maga Phils., Sincere Construction and Development Corp., Vineza Industrial Sales, TV5 and Badminton Extreme Magazine.

For details and results, log on to www.pbars.com, according to tournament director Nelson Asuncion.

Fifth seed JC Clarito also pulled off a shock win over top seed Justin Natividad, 21-19, 21-12, to barge into the semis of the boys’ U-19 against No. 3 Kenneth Monterubio, who booted out Joshua Malelang, 21-8, 21-17. The other semis pairing pits second seed Carlos Cayanan, who thwarted No. 8 Clarence Filart, 21-18, 21-17, against 13-year-old 16^th-ranked Mark Alcala, who added No. 9 Carlo Remo to his growing list of victims, 21-13, 21-18.

Alcala also coasted to the semis of the boys’ U-15 where he is the defending four-leg champion as he beat Ryan Dizer, 21-12, 21-14, for a clash with No. 4 Alexis Geverjuan, who repulsed Enrico Asuncion, 26-24, 21-18.

Second seed Patrick Gecosala romped off with a 21-8, 21-10 victory over Gerloth Delizo to set up a duel with fifth seed Emilio Mangubat Jr., who upset No. 3 Raphael Deato, 21-23, 21-6, 21-6.