Bernardo-Tan crashes into FDG Cup quarters

MANILA, Philippines - Team Allied’s Bea Bernardo and Poi Tan carved out a 21-15, 21-18 victory over joint No. 4 Joella de Vera and Anne Tercias of PBA-Smash Pilipinas to barge into the quarterfinal round of the Open women’s doubles of the FDG Cup Open and Invitational badminton tournament at Powersmash Badminton Center in Makati over the weekend.

The victory lined up the Bernardo-Tan pair against Ateneo’s Janel Dihiansan and Patrisha Malibiran, who also pulled off a reversal over sixth seed Patricia Barredo and Danica Bolos, 17-21, 21-14, 21-19, to highlight the lesser-fancied bets’ charge in the two-weekend ranking tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association and held in honor of Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick D. Go.

Top seed Chiang Pei Hsin of Taiwan and partner Dia Magno of Ateneo escaped an upset axe from Bianca Carlos and Jana de Vera of Ateneo, hacking out a tough 16-21, 21-12, 21-14 win to seal a quarters duel with joint No. 4 Alyssa Leonardo and Thea Pomar, who also survived Marina Caculitan and Maryann Maranon of Team Allied, 18-21, 21-15, 21-10.

Third seed Amor Montilla and Kristelle Salatan of PBA-Smash Pilipinas dominated Trisha Alcasid and Mitzel Buiza, 21-16, 21-11, to arrange a clash with Meralco’s Descka Calimlim and Fatima Cruz, who routed Bernadeth Manalo and Karen Pansacala of Double Play, 21-13, 21-9, in the event held in partnership with Smart Live More, Smash Pilipinas, the PNRS and Partners Cup with Li-ning as the official shuttlecock.

Second seed Jessie Francisco and Eleanor Inlayo of PBA-Smash Pilipinas subdued Kim Mayono and May Pamorada, 21-19, 21-13, to set up a quarters faceoff with Jeline Masongsong and Selina Sandiego of Team Allied, who booted out Jane Lacson and Valerie Lara, 21-11, 21-10.

Meanwhile, Chinese former world No. 1 Wang Xin and Wang Lin are set to arrive today to grace the final round of the event on Saturday where they will play exhibition matches with Philippine Badminton Association sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez, former national team standout Kennevic Asuncion and Go.

Also on tap on Saturday is the Partners Cup, which features employees and business partners of the RLC.

Action in the Open men’s and women’s singles and doubles and mixed doubles resumes tomorrow (Friday) with the quarterfinals, the semifinals and the finals with defending champion Gabriel Magnaye and Paul Vivas taking on Sonny Boy Montilla and Petronio Nim and No. 2 Joper Escueta and Ronel Estanislao tangling with joint No. 6 Raphael Deato and Rafael Manuel.

Other matches pit Guds Mailon and Gregg Paz vs Aries delos Santos and Gerald Sibayan, and Paolo Dawal and Tan Kapunan against Carlos Cayanan and Paul Pantig.

Magnaye and Amor Montilla take on top seed Ahmadi Abdul Saman and Dihiansan in the Open mixed doubles with Escueta and Inlayo battling Alvin Morada and Jessie Francisco, Estanislao and Joella de Vera clashing with Sibayan and Alyssa Leonardo; and Vivas and Salatan colliding with Pantig and Pomar.