Favorites fall in doubles of FDG Cup badminton

MANILA, Philippines - Phl-Team Prima’s Peter Magnaye and Cheska Bermejo and Team Robinsons’ Gabriel Villanueva Jr. and Flo Lamigo came away with a pair of reversals over the top two seeds to crash into the quarterfinals of the Open mixed doubles of the FDG Cup Open Badminton Championships at Powersmash in Makati Friday.

Magnaye and Bermejo shocked top seed Songphon Anugritayawan of Thailand and Jubie Vallarta, 17-21, 24-22, 21-17, while Villanueva and Lamigo stunned No. 2 Thai Samatcha Tovonnakasame and Saro Fullante, 20-22, 21-19, 21-19, in a pair of thrilling three-setters that marked the opener of the grand 10th staging of the event considered as the country’s premier doubles championships.

The two pairs sustained their impressive drive with Magnaye and Bermejo topping Marlon Villarin and Mia Villarin, 21-15, 21-18, to reach the Last 8 against fancied No. 6 Malvinne Alcala and Indon Samuel Paulus, who trounced Melvin Llanes and Danica Bolos, 21-10, 21-16.

Villanueva and Lamigo also progressed with a 21-16, 21-14 win over JC Benipayo and Anne Chen for a quarters duel with Gelita Castilo and Indon Yandi Sanusi, who also upended No. 7 Theodore Co and Indon Putri Medita, 15-21, 21-17, 21-13, in the three-day event held in honor of Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick D. Go, a long-time supporter of badminton.

Others who advanced in the tournament, which also features the Partners Cup, composed of employees and business partners, were Paul Vivas-China’s Lili Wang, Wilfredo Amoroso Jr.-Jen Cayetano, Toby Gadi-Laura Choinet of France, and Indonesian Subhan Hasan and Bianca Carlos.

Meanwhile, reigning world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and former world top player Peter Gade of Denmark arrived yesterday in time for the exhibition matches today at Robinsons Place Manila. Lee will team up with Kennevic Asuncion as they play Gade and Go at 3 p.m.

Lee and Gade, who reigned as world No. 1 from 1998 to 2001, will next switch partners to cap the exhibition games that will also feature Richard Gomez, Iya Villana and Kennie Asuncion.

In other results, No. 1 Malvinne Alcala and Indon partner Putri Medita trampled Analyn Alba and Anna Barredo, 21-18, 21-12, to arrange a quarterfinal duel with No. 6 Joella de Vera-Kristelle Salatan, who subdued Christine Garin and Geilyn Ochoa, 21-16, 21-9, in Open women’s doubles.

No. 2 Gelita Castilo and French teammate Laura Choinet whisked off Kristina Tan and Mia Villarin, 21-11, 21-7, to seal a Last 8 showdown with Danica Bolos and Jen Cayetano, who stunned No. 8 Jessie Francisco and Christine Inlayo, 21-23, 21-15, 21-9.

Other quarterfinalists were No. 4 Rintan Sutanto of Indonesia and Jubie Vallarta, No. 5 Dia Magno and China’s Lili Wang, No. 7 Flo Lamigo and Aires Montilla and No. 3 Saro Fullante and Natalia Poluakan of Indonesia.