Magnaye, Balatbat pull thru in JVC tilt

Peter Gabriel Magnaye smashed his way to the quarterfinal round of the JVC Badminton Open Juniors Championships, bundling out Honesto Buendia III, 15-5, 15-6, behind a superb all-around game that set in motion his title-retention bid in the event at SM North EDSA.

The victory lined up the top seeded Magnaye, playing out of PNP/Victor, for a last 8 clash with Jed Mikhail Perez, the Bulacan bet who subdued Joseph Paredes of ABC via a 15-13, 15-6 decision in the other contest among the top 14-years-old netters in the land.

Also advancing to the next round of this event put up by giant electronics firm JVC to give the youngsters the needed exposure were JP Babad of Battledore and Roden Rivera of Bulacan/Team Valencia.

Babad, who swept his two rivals in the qualifiers to reach the round of 16, sustained his romp as he downed Ryan Almasora of UPHL, 15-6, 15-2, while Rivera, who also dominated a couple of opponents in the elims, pulled off a 15-7, 15-11 victory over Michael Taculad of LMHMC.

But it was Randolph Balatbat, another mainstay of Bulacan/Team Valencia, who produced the most impressive victory — a 15-1, 15-1 rout of Joshua Cruz of La Salle-Zobel as he stepped up his bid for another shot at the crown after bowing to Magnaye last year.

He will face Ramon Guerrero of PNP/LSGH, who prevailed over Kelvin Panganibam of Bulacan/Team Valencia, 15-6, 15-7.

Completing the quarters cast were Battledore’s Ian Bautista and Paul Vivas of Bulacan/Team Valencia, who posted identical 15-3, 15-0 victories over Delfin Pilones of Santiago City Badminton Center and PNP’s Kiy Cajefe, respectively.

They will thus join Magnaye, Balatbat and company in the next round, set to be played at SM Pampanga on April 16-17 alongside the girls’ competition.

Bianca Legaspi and Gelita Castillo led the quarters cast in the distaff side of the event, hosted by 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.