Sevilla leads early winners in Bingo Bonanza Philippine Badminton

MANILA, Philippines - PBA-Smash Pilipinas’ Mariya Sevilla overpowered Klowie Garcia and fashioned out a 21-11, 21-11 rout while Jessica Muljati, Aldreen Mae Concepcion and Charmaine Salvador pulled off similar straight-set wins in the Open women’s singles of the P1.5 million Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall yesterday.

Sevilla flashed top form to dominate her rival from the FEU/Equiparco-BBC team but the national pool mainstay will have her hands full when she goes for a quarterfinal berth against top seed Pauline Tan of Maynilad in today’s resumption of the top-ranking tournament sponsored by the country’s premier gaming and amusement center.

Muljatic, of Shamrock, blasted Irish Molina, 21-6, 21-3, Concepcion, of Allied-NVBA, trounced Joy Tubongbanua of Lyceum in just 13 minutes, 21-6, 21-8, while Salvador, also of PBA-Smash, ripped Mae Pomar, 21-7, 21-14, to move to the Last 16 phase of the event sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez.

Tan and the other seeded bets, including No. 2 Sarah Joy Barredo and defending champion third ranked Gelita Castilo, drew opening day byes and will also see action in the second day of action in the week-long event backed by Gatorade, Glorietta, Smash Pilipinas and the Philippine Olympic Committee and organized by EventKing Corp.

Timothy Alvar kicked off hostilities with a 21-7, 21-16 romp over Arsen Alvarez to arrange a second round clash with Lyceum’s Adrian Ramos, while Christian Sison scored a walkover win over Renz Lumaday to advance against La Salle’s Joaquin Pangilinan in the full-packed Open men’s singles draw.

Meanwhile, Carlos Cayanan and Alyssa Geverjuan of PBA-Smash fought back from a first-set defeat to repulse Sidney de Jesus and Fatima Cruz of Meralco, 18-21, 21-10, 21-17, and move to the Last 16 phase of the mixed doubles.

Ronel Estanislao of PBA-Smash and Indonesian partner Marissa Vita trampled JC Clarito and Almira Ramos of Yappies Badminton Group, 21-10, 21-15, while Joper Escueta, also of PBA-Smash, and Indonesian teammate Keshya Hanadia booted out Vince Lagnada and Mae Pomar of FEU/Equiparco-BBC, 21-11, 21-11, to likewise advance into the next round against Paolo Dawal and Diosan Abangan of Maynilad.

National U’s Mike Minuluan and Minarti Timur of Indonesia also rolled into the next round with a walkover win over Gines Alvar and Marie Lucas. They were playing defending champions Paul Vivas and Christine Inlayo of PBA-Smash at presstime.

In men’s doubles, Christian Bernardo and Alvin Morada of PBA-Smash held off Edison Cupcupin of Philstar/Babolat and Heildenberg Dimarucot of Team Ai-Ai, 21-18, 21-13, to seal a Last 16 duel with NU’s Minuluan and Alem Palmares.

Action heats up in the next two days with matches in the women’s and men’s singles and women’s and men’s doubles and mixed doubles as contenders vie for berths in the quarterfinals to be held at Glorietta 5 Atrium. The semis and the finals will also be played at Glorietta in Makati City.