FEU bets trip rivals, make it to JVC badminton finals

Far Eastern U played true to form and sent two teams in the finals of the men’s and ladies divisions in the collegiate category of the JVC Open Badminton Championships, beating Santo Tomas and Ateneo via similar 2-1 victories before a big crowd at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City yesterday.

Bracing for a tough decider after dropping its first singles match, the FEU men’s squad breezed through the championship round instead when Jimson Dionisio scored a walkover victory to clinch a 2-1 win for the Morayta-based squad. The doubles pair of Mark Natividad and Christopher Flores dominated UST’s Arden Pantig and Ryan Conde, 15-9, 15-4, after Wilmer Frias bowed to UST’s Reynaldo Selga, 13-15, 15-11, 15-6, in the first singles match of the JVC-sponsored event.

Meanwhile, four championships will be disputed today with Lloyd Escoses, another FEU bet, and Kennevic Asuncion clashing for the men’s singles crown and Kennie Asuncion and Irene Chiu disputing the ladies diadem. Also on tap are the finals in the juniors, veterans and corporate divisions.

FEU will thus face University of the East for the men’s crown worth P20,000 tomorrow after the Warriors blanked the UP-Diliman shuttlers, 3-0, behind come-from-behind wins in the other semis encounter of the event backed by Technomarine, Colours, Alaska, Rudy Project, Accel, Ayala Center, The STAR, Tokyo Tokyo, Lactacyd, 103.5 K-lite, Pioneer Insurance, Gosen and Victorinox Orginal Swiss Army Knives.

Heidelberg Dimarucot rallied from a set down to repulse Poppert Bernadas, 11-15, 15-4, 15-10, in the singles, while RJ Cruz and Edison Cupcopin also fought back from a 13-15 loss in the first set to sweep the next two, 15-11, 15-6, in the doubles. Dodie Sertan came away with a 15-5, 15-5 victory over Marvin Cumbe in the other singles match.

Not to be outdone, the FEU Lady Tams defeated the Ateneo side with Jovalyn Cabañero ripping Andrea Go, 11-7, 11-2, and the doubles pair of Criselda Sarabia and Mary Sebastian outclassing the Co-Macy Sy tandem, 15-4, 15-3. Fancied Irene Chiu averted an FEU shutout by beating Julie Ann Hilador, 11-1, 11-1.

UST took the other finals berth in the ladies class by thwarting UP-Diliman, 2-1, as Rose Ann de la Cruz rapped Ronnielie Kagalingan, 11-6, 11-7, in the singles while the tandem of Sandy Banquilles and Czarina Barbo outlasted Sheryl Caraig and Sarah Caraig, 15-13, 17-15. UP’s Liza Sormillo scored a walkover win in the other singles match.

The collegiate finals is set at 10 a.m. tomorrow along with exhibition matches among celebrities and between the Philippines and Indonesia to be followed by the awards rites and celebrity games. For details and other results, visit the event’s website at www.jvcbadminton.com.

Meanwhile, the finals of the various categories will be telecast on IBC-13 on Aug. 7 (9-11 p.m.-vetereans, corporate), Aug. 8 (7-9 p.m.-juniors, collegiate) and Aug. 9 (8-10 p.m.-elite, category); and on Solar Sports on Aug. 17-19 (10-12 mn) and Aug.27-29 (8-10 p.m.).