Pineda, Endriga win Toby’s badminton opener

MANILA, Philippines - Team Prima’s Neil Andrew Pineda and Hanzel Andre Endriga trounced their respective rivals to lead the opening day winners in elimination round of the Toby’s Sports Karyn Velez Memorial Youth Badminton Championships at Powersmash Badminton Center in Makati City yesterday.

Pineda tripped Juan Miguel Santiago, 21-12, 21-10, while Endriga routed Alexander Magat, 21-3, 21-9, to advance in the boys’ 17-under event sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association and powered by Forthright Event.

In boys’ 15-under results, Mark Rellente of Team JB swept Anthony Del Rio, 21-12, 21-11, while Benny Carlos Divinagracia of Dare 4:13 Badminton Academy beat Matthews Calibuyot, 21-12, 21-19, to likewise move into the second round.    

Toby’s YBC 2014 is supported by RSL, Smart, and Robinsons Place Manila, and held in partnership with Adidas, Gatorade, Oracare, Poten-cee, C-Lium, Monde Nissin, Lucky Me, Selecta Ice Cream, Master Facial Wash & Cleanser, Vaseline Men, Eskinol and media partner WhenInManila.com.

Meanwhile, the tournament, held in honor of the late former ace junior player, drew more than 300 participants all over Metro Manila.

“I’m happy on the turnout of the opening day. I didn’t expect that there are many young players who will compete,” said Toby Claudio, president of Toby’s Sports. “We are very proud to be part of badminton development in the country.”      

“This year’s tournament is named after the Philippine’s former No. 1 player and Toby’s ambassador, Karyn “Chibby” Velez,” said Claudio.

Toby’s YBC, one of the three junior ranking tournaments of the country under the Philippine National Ranking System (PNRS) and sanctioned by the PBA, is inviting all high school badminton players to participate in the four-day competition.