Young Albo steals show with 2 wins

MANILA, Philippines - Jewel Albo stole the thunder from the big guns as he bagged two titles in the Toby’s Sports Karyn Velez Memorial Youth Badminton Championships 2014 at Robinsons Place Manila Midtown Atrium over the weekend.

Albo, 10, outplayed fellow Team JB mainstay Christian Tortoles, 21-14, 21-14, to cop the boys’ singles 15-Under title and took the 13-U crown with a walkover win over Kish Laboy.

Mark Alcala of Allied Victor team matched Albo’s two-title romp by ruling the 17- and 19-U divisions over Neil Andrew Pineda, 21-9, 21-10, and Ros Pedrosa, 21-14, 21-18, respectively.

In girls’ singles, national player Sarah Joy Barredo won via walkover against fellow Airah Albo for the 19-U plum while Team JB’s Janelle San Andres turned back Alyssa Roxas, 18-21, 21-15, 21-17, for the 17-U diadem in the event sanctioned by Philippine Badminton Association and powered by Forthright Event.

Golden Shuttlers’ Mikaela Joy De Guzman also won by default over Kia Martha Undan to clinch the girls’ 15-U crown while Team JB’s Anthea Gonzales beat Olivia Sanvictores, 21-9, 21-13, to snare the 13-U title.

The event, held in honor of the country’s former No. 1 and Toby’s ambassador, Karyn “Chibby” Velez, was 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.