Alcala, Pedrosa enter semis of Toby’s Badminton tourney

MANILA, Philippines -- Mark Alcala, Ros Leenard Pedrosa, Neil Andrew Pineda and Wilson Joseph Lopez crushed their separate quarterfinal rivals Friday to march to the semifinal round in the Toby’s Sports Karyn Velez Memorial Youth Badminton Championships 2014 at the Powersmash Badminton Center in Makati City.

Alcala of Team Allied Victor came back from first set loss to beat national junior Frell Keeyan Gabuelo, 19-21, 21-15, 21-14. He will face national player Wilson Joseph Lopez in the semifinals of boys’ 19-under singles event sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association and powered by Forthright Event.

Lopez, for his part, defeated Chris Sanchez of Malabon during the quarterfinals, 21-16, 21-11.

PBA-Smash Pilipinas Ros Leenard Pedrosa routed Tito Glori of BMTC in straight sets, 21-6, 21-9, to make it also to the semifinals of boy’s 19-under division. He will meet Neil Andrew Pineda of Team Prima, who outclassed Alexis Geverjuan of PBA-Smash Pilipinas in quarterfinals, 21-9, 21-13. 

In the girls’ 19-under quarterfinals singles results, No. 1 Sarah Joy Barredo of PBA-Smash Pilipinas team was simply too much for Betina Felipe of Team Allied Victor in an easy 21-10, 21-5 win to arrange a semifinal showdown against Mariya Angela Sevilla.  

Sevilla blanked Cassandra Grace Lim of Ateneo in the quarterfinals, 18-21, 21-13, 21-12.

Aira Mae Nicole Albo of PBA-Smash Pilipinas whipped Alexandrea Kyla Lim of Team Allied Victor, 21-9, 21-8, to reach the semifinals and face Alyssa Geverjuan of PBA-Smash Pilipinas, who ripped Maulika Jiandani in the quarterfinals, 21-6, 21-2.

Toby’s YBC 2014 is supported by RSL, Smart, and Robinsons Place Manila, and made 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.

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.

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