Barredo, Pedrosa expect tough jr badminton cast

MANILA, Philippines - National players Sarah Joy Barredo and Ros Leenard Pedrosa of PBA-Smash Pilipinas see tougher challenge in the Sun Cellular-Ming Ramos National Junior Badminton Tournament national finals which kicks off on Dec. 27-28 at the SM North Edsa Annex, Quezon City.

Barredo, 17, the winner of girls singles Under-19 crown in the Manila leg, and Pedrosa, the winner of boys’ U-19 singles trophy, expect the national finals competition to be more competitive and tougher than the Luzon leg.

“I’m expecting a tougher competition but I’m always ready. I will do everything to win,” said Barredo. “The players in the province are also strong, talented and fast, but I’m not going to back down to the challenge,” said Pedrosa.  

All the champions in the boys and girls’ singles, doubles, and mixed doubles Under-13, 15, 17 and 19 classes Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao leg will clash for supremacy to determine the true champions.

Visayas leg girls’ U-19 singles winner April Dianne Bibiano is expected to give Barredo and other qualifiers a hard time winning the national championship.

The tournament is supported by Sun Cellular, SMART Communications, Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) Sports Foundation, PBA Smash Pilipinas, Prima Pasta, Rocktape Phils. and Babolat, and powered by the Forthright Events.

The competition is sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association (PBA) and is part of the Philippine National Ranking System.

Mindanao’s Daniel Pantanosas, the winner of U-17 boys’ singles trophy, and 10-year-old Jewel Angelo Albo, who took home the boys’ U-13 and U-15 singles titles in Luzon leg, will also play in the national finals.

Marc Julian Lo and Solomon Padiz of Team Prima who won the Luzon boys’ U-15 doubles division plus the Visayas leg champion Carl Bernard Bejasa and Paul James Ouano and the Mindanao U-15 doubles champs Ron Cabalquinto and Julius Fontanilla are the other qualifiers.