Morada, Pedrosa arrange clash for PBaRS title

MANILA, Philippines - National pool members Alvin Morada and Roslee Pedrosa toppled their respective rivals in contrasting fashions to seal a showdown for the boys’ Under-19 singles crown in the MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) in San Fernando, Pampanga yesterday.

Bianca Carlos and Gelita Castilo, teammates at Golden Shuttle Foundation but fierce rivals on the court, renew their rivalry in the centerpiece women’s Open singles as they hurdled their semifinal matches in the event sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation.

Carlos finally found a real challenge after a series of lopsided victories, holding off Nikki Servando, 21-19, 19-21, 21-10, to set up a title clash with Castilo, who overpowered Jen Cayetano, 21-7, 21-10.

The ninth-ranked Morada bounced back from a second set setback to stop Keeyan Gabuelo’s giant-killing spree, 21-12, 15-21, 21-12, while Pedrosa whisked off Bryan Garrido, 21-12, 21-12, in just 25 minutes in one of the early semifinal matches at the Excel Badminton Center.

It was another stunning win for Pedrosa, who earlier eased out No. 16 Jan Sinfuego and No. 6 Christian Cuyno before mastering 10th ranked Joshua Monterubio, 21-17, 21-19, in the quarterfinal round of the event sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay with sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan as chairman and Rep. Albee Benitez as sec-gen.

Jourelle Antonio of City Shuttle-JB foiled Kyle Legaspi with a gutsy 21-18, 22-20 victory to reach the finals of the boys’ Under-15 class. He will take on Corpus Christi’s Daniel Pantanosas, who shocked third seed John Matthew Bernardo, 21-15, 20-22, 21-4, in the lower half of the draw.

Meanwhile, Carlos and No. 2 Patrisha Malibiran dominated their respective quarterfinal rivals to remain on title collision course in the girls’ side of the U-19 class of the events backed by Victor, exclusively distributed in the Philippines by PCOME Industrial Salves, Inc.

Carlos trounced Marina Caculitan, 21-8, 21-8, for a semis face-off with third seed Ma. Victoria Vizmonte, who held off Alyssa Geverjuan, 21-18, 11-21, 21-18, while Malibiran thwarted Michael Duquilla, 21-19, 21-15, to seal a Final Four clash with No. 6 Samantha Ramos, who upset No. 4 Janelle de Vera, 14-21, 21-14, 21-9.