Foreign aces roll into FDG Cup quarterfinal

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Chiang Pei Hsin of Taiwan toppled joint No. 8 Angela Sevilla of PBA Smash Pilipinas, 21-19, 21-16, while Indonesian second seed Asifa Nur Farisma eased out Descka of Meralco, 21-16, 21-12, to barge into the Open women’s singles quarters in the the FDG Cup Open and Invitational badminton tournament at Powersmash Badminton Center in Makati yesterday.

Chiang, who bundled out Danica Peligrino in the first round, actually needed to toughen up with her vast repertoire of shots to turn back Sevilla and move into the Last 8 against No. 7 Sarah Joy Barredo, also of PBA Smash Pilipinas, who downed Camille Gotohio of La Salle, 21-5, 21-13.

Farisma, on the other hand, outclassed Calimlim with her power game to post the win in a big follow-up to her 21-6, 21-4 rout of Kim Jarabelo in Saturday’s start of the two-weekend ranking tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association and held in honor of Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick D. Go.

Others advancing to the quarters are Chinese joint No. 2 Lili Wang, who ripped Macy Salvador of La Salle, 21-5, 21-7; PBA Smash Pilipinas’ Alyssa Geverjuan, who repulsed Virginia Lopez, 21-10, 21-18; Aldreen Concepcion, who held off Mitzel Buiza, 21-16, 19-21, 21-8; fourth seed Nicole Albo of PBA Smash, who beat Janine Peligrino, 21-10, 21-17; and Team Allied’s Poi Tan, who thwarted Shane Salvador, 21-13. 16-21, 21-14.

Local ace No. 7 Toby Gadi, meanwhile, clipped Neil Pineda, 21-13, 21-5, to lead the quarters cast in the Open men’s singles of the event held in partnership with Smart Live More, Smash Pilipinas, the PNRS and Partners Cup with Li-ning as the official shuttlecock.

Others who advanced were No. 8 Kevin Cudiamat, who booted out Sean Chan, 21-10, 21-10, and joint No. 1 Mohammad Arif Ab Latif of Malaysia, who clobbered Wilson Lopez, 21-13, 21-11.

UE’s Kenneth Cruz and Arman Manlalangit, meanwhile, shocked the top-seeded pair of Jinn Ye Tan of Malaysia and Kyle Gosiaco of Ateneo, 21-15, 21-18, to lead the Last 16 cast in the Open men’s doubles. No. 2 Joper Escueta and Ronel Estanislao of the national team, whipped Benjamin Abalos and James Ramirez of JC Badminton, 21-2, 21-8, in the lower bracket.