Carlos completes golden double

MANILA, Philippines - Bianca Carlos flashed fine form and upended top seed Gelita Castilo, 21-17, 21-14, to capture the ladies Open singles crown while fancied Toby Gadi and Mark Alcala kept their reign in their respective divisions in the P1 million MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) circuit at Metro Sports Center in Lahug, Cebu City yesterday.

Carlos used a combination of shots to baffle Castilo and seize the initiative in the opening set then kept her fellow Golden Shuttle Foundation mainstay on the defensive end in the second frame to fashion out the 40-minute victory worth P70,000.

A multi-leg winner in last year’s inaugural staging of the event, sponsored by GOAL Pilipinas, Carlos earlier downed Patrisha Malibiran, 21-3, 21-16, to extend her domination of the girls Under-19 class of the event organized by the Philippine Badminton Association and backed by official equipment sponsor Victor, exclusively distributed in the Phl by PCOME Industrial Sales, Inc.

“I just played my game and tried to focus and be patient,” said Carlos, who also won the first leg last year and ruled the U-19 first, third and fourth legs.

She also pocketed P20,000 for her U-19 feat.

Gadi dominated Ralph Ian Mendez, 21-16, 21-12, to likewise claim his fifth men’s Open singles crown also worth P70,000, counting the four he swept last year, while Alcala overpowered Patrick Gecosala, 21-12, 21-11, to retain the boys’ U-15 plum and pocket P10,000.

Joint No. 4 Eleanor Inlayo surprised third seed Jessie Francisco in a thrilling duel, 21-13, 21-23, 22-20, to steal the girls’ U-15 diadem worth P10,000 in the event backed by Gatorade, Krav Maga Phils., Sincere Construction and Development Corp., Vineza Industrial Sales, TV5 and Badminton Extreme Magazine.

Castilo salvaged some measure of pride as she teamed up with Dia Magno to repulse Jen Cayetano and Kim Mayono, 13-21, 21-19, 21-17, and claim the Open women’s doubles crown while Joaquin Deato and Inlayo combined to defeat Fides Bagasbas and Alyssa Geverjuan, 23-25, 21-8, 21-16, to clinch the U-15 mixed doubles plum.

No. 7 Joper Escueta and Peter Gabriel Magnaye upset the top-seeded pair of Ronnel Estanislao and Paul Vivas, 21-11, 21-19, to capture the Open men’s doubles title and the top P70,000 purse.

Carlos Cayanan and Gerald Sibayan demolished Vincent Manuel and Alvin Morada, 21-6, 21-11, to cop the boys’ U-19 doubles title while JC Clarito and Kristelle Salatan held off Theodore Co and Janel Dihiansan, 21-15, 22-20, to bag the U-19 mixed doubles crown.