Doubles player shocks Welshman

MANILA, Philippines – Doubles specialist Rodel Bartolome proved he can be a force to reckon with in singles as he upended Raj Popat of Wales to advance to the second round of the $120,000 Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Championships at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

While majority of the RP bets fell one after the other to their foreign counterparts, Bartolome, the other half of the power-hitting brothers, stood out to lead compatriots Jaime Junio, Jose Martinez and Paul Co into the Last 32 phase of the men’s singles, one of the five events disputed in the Graded four-star tournament sponsored by Bingo Bonanza.

Unlike Bartolome, however, Junio, Martinez and Co advanced via walkover wins over Zi Wong, Zong Ren Ng and Yong Zhao Chen of Singapore. But the four locals will have their hands full in the next round with Bartolome taking on No. 7 and former world junior champion Chen Long of China.

Despite his ranking, Chen is tipped to contend for the crown with the youthful Chinese ace coming off victories over current world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei, and former top players Lin Dan and Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia the last few months.

“I fell the pressure but I’m confident,” said Chen during yesterday’s press launch of the event organized by International Management Group and backed by Victor (PCOME Industrial Sales, Inc), PLDT Business Solutions, The Philippine STAR, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, the Philippine Sports Commission and Solar Sports.

Bingo Bonanza president and CEO Albee Benitez and Phil. Badminton Association president and former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos welcomed the participants who regard the RP Open as one of the must-tournaments on tour even as they exhorted the local players to strive for excellence.

Patrick Magnaye surprised Slovenia’s Iztok Utrosa in the first set but lost steam in the end and absorbed a sorry 16-21, 21-11, 21-11 setback.

“He surprised his rival with a number of deceptive shots but Iztok made the adjustment in the last two sets and wore down Magnaye in the end,” said RP team coach Allan De Leon, referring to 18-year-old Magnaye, who competed in the ASEAN Badminton Championships last year.

Raymond Padilla was the first to bow out with a 7-21, 18-21 setback to Hong Kong’s Chan Yun Lang, then Melvin Llanes took a 10-21, 9-21 beating from China’s Lu Qicheng. Peter Magnaye followed suit with a 17-21, 15-21 loss to Singapore’s Febriyan Irvannaldy then Benjamin Gadi fell to Zhou Wenlong, also of China, 8-21, 12-21.

Meanwhile, Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion, runner-up in the mixed doubles in inaugural staging of the event organized by IMG and sanctioned by the Phil. Badminton Association in 2006, plunges into action today, hopeful of rediscovering their form for another crack at the crown.

“We hope to do well and we’re focused on this. Everytime we play, the field gets tougher, especially now that there are many unknown but dangerous players but we’re prepared,” Kennie said.

In other results, Joper Escueta lost to Malaysia’s Kay Bin Yeoh, 21-23, 14-21; Jobett Co bowed to Singapore’s Huang Chao, 19-21, 17-21; Gabriel Villanueva fell to Indonesian Adnan Fauzi, 17-21, 10-21; Kelvin Dalisay succumbed to Malaysian Beryno Wong, 10-21, 14-21.