Magnaye-Vivas storms way to FDG Cup semis

MANILA, Philippines - National team mainstays Peter Magnaye and Paul Vivas toppled top seed Toby Gadi and Thai partner Sudhket Prapakamol, 21-8, 21-14, in the third round then survived Ariel delos Santos and Gerald Sibayan, 21-13, 20-22, 21-16, to barge into the semifinal round of the Open men’s doubles in the FDG Cup Open Badminton Championships at Powersmash in Makati Saturday.

Magnaye and Vivas, ranked 12th in a field of 64, sustained their hot streak to stun the fancied Gadi-Prapakamol but needed to toughen up against Delos Santos and Sibayan to pull off the three-setter and set a Final Four clash with No. 15 and fellow Phl team members Carlos Cayanan and Alvin Morada.

Reigning world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and former world’s top player Peter Gade of Denmark graced the grand 10th staging of the event held in honor of Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick D. Go as they played exhibition matches with FDG and former Phl No. 1 Kennevic Asuncion along with Richard Gomez, Iya Villana and Kennie Asuncion at Robinsons Place Manila yesterday.

The Cayanan-Morada tandem also needed an extra set to foil Alfredo Mailon and Gregg Paz in a back-and-forth decider, 21-17, 17-21, 22-20, to stay in the hunt for the top P180,000 purse in the grand 10th staging of the event considered as the country’s premier doubles championships.

No. 13 Joper Escueta and Ronel Estanislao, also of the national team, shocked No. 2 Thai Songphon Anugritayawon and Mike Paclibar, 21-12, 21-15, in the Last 16 then blasted No. 9 Theodore Co and Samuel Paulus of Indonesia, 21-17, 21-9, to seal the other semis duel with No. 8 Jaime Junio and Indon Anggy Sepdianto of Team Prima, who stunned No. 4 Tinn Isriyanate and Roden Rivera of Team Robinsons, 18-21, 22-20, 21-18.

Phl No. 1 Malvinne Alcala, meanwhile, primed up for a twin kill as she teamed up with Indon Putri Medita to beat Joella de Vera and Kristelle Salatan, 21-10, 21-14, in the Open women’s doubles quarters then partnered with Paulus to stop Magnaye and Cheska Bermejo, 17-21, 21-17, 21-17, and reach the semis of the Open mixed doubles of the event held in honor of Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick D. Go.

Alcala and Paulus will meet Wilfredo Amoroso Jr. and Jen Cayetano, who subdued Vivas and Lili Wang of Chinaa, 21-17, 19-21, 21-18, while the Toby Gadi-Laura Choinet of France and Gelita Castilo-Yandi Sanusi of Indonesia pairs will dispute the other finals berth.