Cudiamat, Aquino pull off Bingo escapes

MANILA, Philippines – Top seed Kevin Cudiamat and Adamson’s Mika Aquino went through some anxious moments but pulled through just the same to advance in their respective divisions in the 2016 Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at the CW Home Depot Ortigas in Pasig yesterday.

Cudiamat groped for form in the early going but picked up the pace in the next two sets which he dominated on his way to a 23-25, 21-10, 21-13 victory over HP2’s JC Clarito for a spot in the third round of the men’s Open singles of the P1.5 million event sponsored by the country’s premier gaming and amusement center Bingo Bonanza.

The PBA Smash Pilipinas ace, who lost the crown to absentee Mark Alcala last year, will next face Cris Sanchez of Team Prima/UST, who also fought back from an opening set setback to repulse Niel Pineda, 16-21, 21-17, 21-18, for a berth in the quarterfinal round of the country’s premier badminton championship sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by president Jejomar Binay and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez.

Aquino also needed an extra set to get past Ateneo’s Angela Ramos, 21-13, 15-21, 21-10, in women’s singles, underscoring the level playing field in the top-ranking tournament featuring members of the national team and pool and a host of rising stars from the collegiate and club ranks.

In other men’s singles results, fourth ranked Orlan Ticala of Team Prima overpowered Michael Saragena, 21-12, 21-14; Ateneo’s Carlo Remo bundled out Michael Clemente, 21-19, 21-10; No. 6 Solomon Padiz Jr. stopped Keoni Asuncion, 21-18, 21-16; wild card Christian Cuyno of National U eased out Jason Vanzuela, 21-13, 21-14; and Edwin Dodds of Letran/Calamba scored a walkover win over No. 7 Emilio Mangubat Jr.