Legaspi, Castillo tow q’ finalists

Bianca Legaspi and Gelita Castillo romped away with easy victories over their respective rivals to barge into the quarterfinal round of the JVC Badminton Open Juniors Championships before a big weekend crowd at SM North EDSA yesterday.

Legaspi, playing out of Asuncion Badminton Center, dropped only one point and dominated Jeryss Monique Lu the rest of the way as she fashioned out an 11-1, 11-0 victory to lead the quarterfinalists in the 14-under division of this JVC-sponsored event.

Castillo, a Centro Atletico player, trounced Camille Yang, 11-3, 11-0, in a big follow-up to her 11-0, 11-1 win over Keeshalane Theodosis in the final day of the qualifiers Thursday.

The victory set up Castillo for a quarterfinal round match with Kiara Anjali Castelo, who thwarted Diane Reina of Balanga Badminton Club, 11-7, 11-6.

Earlier, QC Councilor Jorge Banal, representing QC Mayor Sonny Belmonte, graced the opening rites by hitting the ceremonial serve to kick off the mall-hopping tournament exclusively for the country’s top and promising junior players.

Also on hand were Hideyuki Takato, president and CEO of JVC (PHILS.), Inc., Mika Takato, Kazue Salud, general manager of JVC (PHILS.), Inc., Ruby Reyes, Group Head Marketing of SM Supermalls, and Robby Decena, marketing head of SM Supermalls.

The event, which also serves as part of the ongoing SM summer sports tour, is sponsored by JVC and SM Supermalls and backed by Gosen, Alaska, Kenny Rogers, Epson, Pioneer Life, Chris Sports, Lactacyd,

PowerSmash, Crystal Water, The STAR, Pinoy Exchange.com, Akari and Accel, the official outfitter of the tournament.

For details, log on to www.jvcbadminton.com.

Meanwhile, it will be the boys’ turn to showcase their badminton skills and talent as they dispute the quarterfinal berths today, also at SM North EDSA.

Defending champion Peter Magnaye takes on Honesto Buendia III with the top-seeded PNP bet expected to have his hands full against his La Salle-Greenhills opponent in the featured match.

Other matches pit Jed Perez of Bulacan against Joseph Paredes of ABC; Ryan Almazora of UPHL versus JP Babad of Battledore; Michael Taculad against Roden Rivera, also of Bulacan; Randolf Balatbat vs Joshua Cruz;

Ramon Guerrero of PNP vs Kelvin Panganiban; Delfin Pilones vs Ian Bautista of Battledore; Kiy Benjud Cajefe vs Paul Vivas of Bulacan.