Gadi survives Dalisay, sets duel vs Vivas

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Toby Gadi displayed grace under pressure to stave off elimination then used his experience to foil Kevin Dalisay of Phl Team-Victor, 16-21, 23-21, 21-15, and reach the finals of the men’s Open singles in the MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) Makati leg at the Makati Coliseum yesterday.

Down by a set and trailing 19-20 in the second, Gadi fended off Dalisay’s series of smashes with a fine defensive game then racked up four of the next five points to force a decider where he re-established control to hurdle his toughest test so far in a flourishing career that netted five PBaRS titles.

The thrilling 55-minute victory highlighted the action-packed semifinal round in the second leg of this year’s MVPSF-PBaRS circuit with the top Golden Shuttle Foundation bet arranging what promises to be an explosive finale against Paul Vivas.

The second-seeded Vivas, another Phl Team-Victor mainstay, also struggled past teammate and No. 8 Andrei Babad, 21-18, 24-22, to gain a crack at the crown and the top P70,000 staked in the five-day tournament sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation and backed by Victor PCOME Industrial Sales Inc., exclusive distributor of Victor equipment.

Top seed Gelita Castilo and No. 2 Bianca Carlos likewise sealed a dream title clash of GSF bets in the women’s Open singles after the former outclassed Danica Bolos, 21-8, 21-10, and the latter held off Amabel Sumabat of WWGBA, 21-16, 21-19.

Carlos, who beat Castilo in the Open final in the Cebu leg last May, also lined herself up for a repeat double as the St. Paul College Pasig bet made it to the finals of the Under-19 with a 21-7, 21-13 romp over Patrisha Malibiran.

She will dispute the title against Sumabat, who stopped Angelicum’s Aldreen Rae Concepcion, 21-19, 21-10, in the event organized by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay, chair Manny V. Pangilinan and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez.

The finals in various events will start at 11 a.m. today with VP Binay expected to grace the affair, also at the Makati Coliseum.

Top seed Justin Natividad of GSF rallied from a set down to repulse Christian Cuyno, 19-21, 21-6, 21-7, to advance to the finals of the boys’ U-19 against Lance Bautista of Allied Victor, who thwarted Miguel Leonardo, 21-16, 21-18.

WWGBA’s Frell Gabuelo pulled off the day’s biggest shock win as he upended top seed Patrick Gecosala, 21-16, 21-16, to set up a title clash with No. 4 Alexis Geverjuan, who turned back Joven Bagasbas, 21-16, 19-21, 21-14.

No. 4 Sarah Joy Barredo, also of WWGBA, foiled Concepcion, 21-8, 17-21, 21-12, to seal a clash with No. 5 Alyssa Geverjuan of Whackers BA, who downed Kate Tating, 21-7, 21-13, for girls’ U-15 championship.

Other backers of the event are PBA Partylist (Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta), Gatorade, Badminton Extreme Philippines Magazine, Vineza Industrial Sales, Sincere, Krav Maga Philippines and TV5 with Enervon as minor sponsor.