Gadi, Carlos keep MVP-PBaRS crowns

CEBU, Philippines - Toby Gadi made it six-in-row while Bianca Carlos reigned for the second straight time as the Golden Shuttle Foundation bets pulled off a pair of straight-set victories in the Open singles finals in the MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) Makati leg at the Makati Coliseum yesterday.

Gadi, who barely survived Kevin Dalisay in the semis, dominated Paul Vivas of Phl Team-Victor, 21-16, 21-9, to annex his six straight men’s Open singles crown while PBaRS Cebu leg winner Carlos repeated over top seed Gelita Castilo, 21-16, 21-15, in the women’s finals of the centerpiece event sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation.

Vice President and Philippine Badminton Association chief Jejomar Binay, Philippine Olympic Committee president and PBA Party-list Rep. Mark Sambar with PBaRS tournament director Nelson Asuncion graced the awards rites of the five-day tournament backed by Victor PCOME Industrial Sales Inc., exclusive distributor of Victor equipment.

“I feel like I played more relaxed today, not forcing my shots too much unlike against Dalisay where I played too much on the sides which cost me a lot of unforced errors,“ said the 23-year-old Gadi, a fourth year AB International Studies student at Ateneo.

While admitting that he came into the finals wary of the second seeded Vivas, Gadi said that he remained confident of his chances, knowing he has the tools and the skills to win his sixth straight MVPSF-PBaRS crown.

The country’s top player is set to compete in various international tournaments, including the Hong Kong Super Series, and Macau and Korea Grand Prix Gold although he hopes “there will be people who could help me with the funds I’ll be needing to join these tournaments.”

WWGBA’s Frell Gabuelo, who shocked top seed Patrick Gecosala in the Final Four, capped an impressive campaign in the event staged to discover fresh talents and rank players according to their strength as he held off Alexis Geverjuan, 21-13, 21-17, to pocket the boys’ Under-15 diadem.

Sarah Joy Barredo, also of WWGBA, took the girls’ U-15 plum with a 21-8, 21-13 victory over Alyssa Geverjuan while Christian Bernardo and Chanelle Lunod stunned second seed Boris Sumabat and Sarah Joy Barredo, 21-19, 21-17, to snatch the doubles title in the event organized by the PBA through chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez.

Top ranked Justin Natividad, also of GSF, trampled Lance Bautista, 21-15, 21-17, to capture the boys’ U-19 crown while Elijah Boac and JC Clarito took the doubles title with a 21-12, 21-18 victory over Miguel Leonardo and Jon Masongsong.

The Open winners received P70,000 each while the U-19 and U-15 champions took P20,000 and P10,000 each in the event backed by PBA Partylist (Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta), Philippine Airlines, Gatorade, Badminton Extreme Philippines Magazine, Vineza Industrial Sales, Sincere, Krav Maga Philippines and TV5 with Enervon as minor sponsor. (PR) (FREEMAN)