De Jesus, Lim reach quarters

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Cassandra Lim rolled past Mikaela Aquino while No. 2 Kaydee de Jesus scored a walkover win to reach the quarterfinal round of the girls singles Under-15 in the Ming Ramos-Victor National Open and Youth Badminton Championships at Club 650 yesterday.

Favorites Joper Escueta and Peter Magnaye also stayed on course for a title clash in the Open and boys’ Under-19 divisions with a pair of straight-set victories over their respective rivals in an upset-marred second day action of the annual tournament featuring the country’s leading and rising stars.

Action shifts to the PSC Badminton Hall at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex today with the semifinal round in all divisions, including the Open category. Quarterfinal matches are being played at presstime at Club 650.

The 14-year-old Lim, playing out of the Escoses Training Camp, whisked off Mikaela Aquino with a brilliant all-around game, scoring a 21-8, 21-6 rout to arrange a quarters showdown with Faith de Vera, who won by default over joint fifth seed Diane Catangay.

De Jesus likewise didn’t lift a racket to advance but will have her hands full against fellow Allied-Victor Club mainstay Bianca de Guzman, who upended joint No. 5 Raelynne Almendras, 21-17, 21-14, in the lower half of the draw.

Also advancing to the Last 8 are Samantha Ramos, who also pulled off a reversal with a 21-16, 21-11 win over joint third seed Marina Caculitan; Diane Ocampo, who stunned No. 5 Janine Peligrino, 21-13, 8-21, 21-16; and Joella de Vera, who bundled out Jackie Keyser, 21-12, 21-9; and 11-year-old Aira Albo, who downed Bianca Oro, 21-6, 21-7.

Escueta overwhelmed Jesschard Piol with his power game, 21-7, 21-10, while fellow national team member Magnaye outplayed Diego Libiran, 21-12, 21-12, to lead the quarterfinalists in the U-19 class of the event organized by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by president and former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos and sponsored by San Miguel Corp. and Victor, locally distributed by PCOME Industrial Sales.

Escueta goes for the first semis berth against joint fifth seed Nikko Saquin, who subdued Brent Wu, 21-12, 21-16, while Magnaye battles Joshua Monterubio, who blanked Raymund Ajero, 21-0, 21-0, in the lower half of the draw.

Other quarters pairings in the premier division of the event, sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC), pit Aleckhine Aquino against Kevin Cudiamat, and Lance Bautista against Honesto Buendia.

Escueta earlier booted out Wilmer Frias, 21-4, 21-7, to reach the quarters of the Open class against Kevin Cudiamat, who repulsed Anton Cayanan, 19-21, 21-8, 21-17. Magnaye shut out Marlon Villarin, 21-0, 21-0, to arrange a clash with Aries delos Santos, who turned back Ronel Estanislao, 21-13, 18-21, 21-19.

Other quarterfinalists in the centerpiece event were Paul Vivas, Gabriel Villanueva, Honesto Buendia and Kevin Dalisay while top seed Malvinne Alcala and No. 2 Danica San Ignacio head the quarterfinalist in the ladies side of both the Open and U-19 categories

Alcala, fresh from her gold medal feat in the Singapore Youth International, opens her title-retention bid in the U-19 class as she goes up against Jonelyn Nieto, who turned backed Justine Ampuan, 12-21, 21-15, 21-13.

San Ignacio also gets to see action in the quarters as she battles Danice Peligrino, who routed Clarissa Pascual, 21-0, 21-0, in the lower bracket. Other Last 8 matches feature joint third seed Anna Barredo against Camille Gotohio and Janelle de Vera against Lea Gonzales.

The fancied bets also cruised to the quarters in the girls U-17 with Bacolod’s top seed Nikki Servando scoring a 21-8, 21-11 victory over Ann Maranon to set up a duel with Danica Peligrino of Whackers, who trounced Shaina Osorio, 21-7, 21-9.

The second-seeded Lim, from Poveda Learning Center, thumped Justine Ampuan, 21-8, 21-9, to stay on course for a possible title clash with Servando. Lim faces Elainne Vinluan, who scored a walkover win over Joella de Vera.

Joint third ranked Janelle de Vera, meanwhile, held off Alli Candelaria, 21-18, 21-13, to arrange a quarters match with Selina Sandiego, who repulsed Mikaela Aquino, 21-19, 15-21, 21-9. The other QF match pits Kristelle Salatan against Ynah Zapanta.