Star shuttlers advance to JVC Open final

Defending champion Philippine Star fought back from a loss in the first mixed doubles by sweeping the next three matches, including the second mixed doubles to nip AB Leisure, 4-3, and advance to the finals of the corporate division of the P1 million JVC Open Badminton Championships at Glorietta yesterday.

Meralco, on the other hand, yielded only the men’s doubles match to Robinsons Land Corp. as it won the four other events, including the last two mixed doubles worth four points to complete a 6-1 victory in the other semis match.

Philstar and Meralco dispute the crown and the top P50,000 purse on Sunday beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Rodolfo Gutierrez and Jhona Magnaye dropped a 19-21, 21-13, 14-21 decision to Maynard Pasakdal and Elaine Lao in the first mixed doubles but the Starmen took the men’s and ladies doubles to grab a 2-1 lead with the Chester Cordero-Jopet Sison tandem and the Melody Villaceran-Annalyn Delgado pair defeating Albee Benitez-Ricardo Morales, 21-10, 19-21, 21-16, and Yugean Yusikee-Angelita Ramirez, 21-9, 21-12, respectively.

Cordero then teamed up with Dahlia Santiago to repulse the Ginalee-Daymiel pair in the second mixed doubles worth two points, 13-21, 21-17, 21-18, for an insurmountable 4-1 lead. Philstar didn’t play the second mixed doubles for that 4-3 victory.

Meralco leaned on Rey Selga-Flor Vivas, Selga-Diana Barbo, and Jun Ildefonso-Dang Sarabia’s victories in the mixed doubles to beat Robinsons Land. Sarabia earlier teamed up with Kat Anasco to win the women’s doubles over Monique Buena and Sandy Banquiles, 21-14, 21-19.

Earlier, Assumption’s Francesca Bermejo and Rina Batuigas of Iloilo thwarted their respective rivals to seal a showdown for the ladies crown in the elite division.

The 16-year-old Bermejo, a silver medallist in last year’s juniors category of this event sponsored by JVC (PHILS.), Inc. for the sixth straight year, sustained her fine form and foiled Diosan Abangan of 4Play, 21-19, 21-16, while Batuigas stopped Rochanie Decatoria, 21-19, 19-21, 21-16.

Antonino Gadi of Golden Shuttle Foundation and Battledore’s Andrei Babad sealed a duel for the men’s crown by disposing of Ronnel Estanislao of Allied Badminton, 21-12, 21-8, and Ronald Daymiel of 4Play, 21-17, 21-18, respectively.

Meanwhile, semifinal action in the elite masters and juniors divisions will be played today starting at 12 noon with RTU Badminton’s Irene Chiu taking on GSF’s Karyn Velez and Alma Ledesma, also of GSF, colliding with Jertie Kagalingan of UP.

Top seed Lloyd Escoses of FEU battles former champion Ian Piencenaves of Butuan while Christopher Flores clashes with Battledore’s Melvin Llanes in the other men’s singles semis match.

In junior play, James Rizon of Cebu tangles with Ronnel Estanislao of Allied Badminton while Patrique Magnaye of Victor and Ralph Hidalgo of GSF mix it up in the other semis encounter of the event backed by Victor, Bacchus Energy Drink, Lactacyd, Snickers Chocolates, Pioneer Life, LTIMEstudio, Lifestyle Watch Store, Alaska, Ayala Center, The Philippine STAR, Accel, Sunbolt, PowerSmash, Pinoy Exchange, Solar Sports and Magic 89.9.

GSF’s Karyn Velez, meanwhile, takes on Victor’s Reyne Calimlim in the first semis duel in the girls’ side while Gelita Castillo of Centro Atletico squares off with Bianca Legaspi, also of GSF, for the other final berth in the 16-under category.