Concepcion, Clemente pull off FDG Cup upsets

MANILA, Philippines - CK Clemente hacked out a shock three-set win over joint top seed Jinn Ye Tan of Malaysia while Aldreen Concepcion stunned joint No. 5 Arianne Rivera in another three-set thriller to highlight the opener of the FDG Cup Open and Invitational badminton tournament at Powersmash Badminton Center in Makati yesterday.

Clemente, a mainstay of Team Allied, outsteadied Tan in the opener then recovered from a second set meltdown with a gritty stand in decider, scoring a 21-19, 12-21, 22-20 victory to crash into the second round of the full-packed Open men’s singles of the two-weekend ranking event sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association.

Concepcion, member of the PBA-Smash Pilipinas team, snatched a tough 21-19, 20-22, 22-20 victory over La Salle’s Rivera in a back-and-forth duel to advance to the Last 16 phase of the Open women’s singles marked by straight-set romps by the fancied foreign bets.

Top seed Chiang Pei Hsin of Taiwan dominated Danica Pelegrino, 21-9, 21-12; joint No. 2 Lili Wang of China whisked off Maryann Maranon, 21-15, 21-13; and second seed Asifa Nur Farisma of Indonesia routed Kim Jarabelo, 21-6, 21-4, to join Concepcion and 12 others into the next round of the event held in honor of Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick D. Go and backed by Smart Live More, Smash Pilipinas, the PNRS and Partners Cup with Li-ning as the official shuttlecock.

Action resumes at 9 a.m. today, including those in the mixed, men’s and women’s doubles. The Partners Cup, held side by side with the Open category and featureing employees and business partners of the RLC, will be held next weekend along with the Invitational tournament, which will serve as the highlight where Chinese Wang Lin and Wang Xin, both former world women’s singles No. 1, will team up with FDG and some of the country’s current and former top players in exhibition matches.

Angela Sevilla scored a walkover win over Karla Palma to set up a duel with Hsin; seventh ranked Sarah Joy Barredo survived Dia Magno, 18-21, 21-6, 21-12, to arrange a clash with Camille Gotohio, who downed Isa Tan, 21-16, 21-5; Macy Salvador won by default over Marie Clavite; joint No. 8 Alyssa Geverjuan dominated Selina Sandiego, 21-12, 21-6; Virginia Lopez swept Gia Eusebio 21-6, 21-16; Mitzel Buiza held off Jana de Vera, 21-18, 22-20; Janine Pelegrino scored a walkover win over Mae Velasco; fourth seed Nicole Albo thwarted Bea Bernardo in a thrilling duel, 28-26, 22-20; Shane Salvador whipped Celine Javier, 21-7, 21-4; joint No. 5 Pit Tan and Descka Calimlim won by default over Sarah Sevilla and Nikki Servando, respectively.

The foreign aces stamped their class in the men’s side with Malaysians Mohammad Arif Ab Latif easing out Jojo Malelang, 21-11, 21-10; and Ahmadi Binn Abdul Saman trouncing Jeremiah Katoh, 21-11, 21-12; fancied Indonesian Dea Adirangga won by default over Paul Odulio.

Top Filipino bet Toby Gadi overpowered Beam Cabilan, 21-11, 21-9, to lead the other local aces into the next round, including Efren Celis Jr., Jayson Oba-ob, Jon Masongsong, Orlan Ticala, Wilson Lopez, Alexis Geverjuan, Lance Bautista, R-Jay Ormilla, Nephtali Pineda, Earl Guevarra, Marvin Nalangan, Neil Pineda, Joaqs Pagnilinan, Sean Chan, Jefferson Kwan, Kevin Cudiamat, Mark Magboo, Kenneth Monterubio, Frell Gabuelo, Kevin Dalisay, Kevin Fabros, Ros Pedrosa, Miggy Leonardo and Akishita Hilario, who won by default over Indonesian Ruddy Kondoy.