JVC Regional Open Badminton: Fancied bets lead early winners

Top bets cruised to easy victories as they kicked off their campaign their respective divisions in the Cebu leg of the JVC Regional Open Badminton Championships at the Holiday Spa Health and Fitness Center badminton courts.

National champions Clint Dexter Armamento, James Bell Rizon and John Rey Densing disposed their rivals in straight sets to book tickets to the quarterfinal round of the boy's singles.

Armamento of University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) stamped his class over Pablo Arededon, 21-12, 21-18 while Rizon of University of Cebu won over Raymark Go of University of the Visayas (UV), 21-11, 21-6.

Densing, for his part, was too much for Jay-R Batolan as he scored a 21-11, 21-11 win.

Joining the trio in the quarterfinal round are Anthony Bergantin, a 21-13, 21-7 winner over Kevin Genobia; Joe Charles Marigomen, who won over Mark Joseph Fuentevella, 21-12, 21-11; Jeffrey Lepaopao of UC, who won over Joel Christian Mendez, 21-14, 21-15; Bruce Steven Galon, a winner over Gerald Vince Conde, 21-7, 21-11 and John Niño Taboada, who won over Vin Paul Palacio, 21-15, 21-14.

Densing and Rizon also automatically entered in the quarterfinals in the doubles event with a bye in the first round along with Armamento who is paired with Niño Paul Palacio.

In the distaff side, Jewel Amor Collamat and Chris Therese Lomotos are up for a showdown for a slot in the semifinal round after dispatching their rivals.

Collamat of UV moved to the quarterfinals with a 21-13, 21-16 victory over Jane Lepaopao while Lomotos of USJ-R easily dumped Marie Patricia Quintos, 21-7, 21-12.

The other semifinalists are Mary Rose Montebon and Jenny and Jesie Coca, who enjoyed a bye; Caren Marie Mojado, who won over Phoebe Charlotte Fuentespina, 21-19, 21-11; Celia Marie Kimberly Li, who won over Gwendolyn Velasquez, 21-14, 21-7 and Merjorie Lagat, who won over Marigold Sweet Duan, 21-15, 21-11.

Securing automatic berth in the semifinals in the girl's doubles is the pair of Mary Rose Montebon and Chris Therese Lomotos.

The Cebu leg of the JVC badminton event attracted more than 300 badminton players as they bid to secure slots to represent Cebu to the JVC Open Badminton Championships in Manila.

The Cebu leg will be followed up on April 17-21 at the Excel Badminton Club in Pampanga, May 1-5 at the Wheel 'N More Badminton Club in Davao City and on May 15-19 at the Pohang Badminton Center in Bacolod City.

The JVC regionals is sponsored by JVC, Victor (exclusively distributed by Pcome Industrial Sales), Lactacyd and Bingo Bonanza and backed by The Star, Pinoy Exhange, Pioneer Life, Sunbolt, Alaska, Handford and Cebu Holiday Spa, Pohang Badminton Center, Wheels 'N More Badminton Courts and Excel Badminton Center.