Bolos, Gadi barge into PBaRS semis

MANILA, Philippines - Team PPJ/Victor-PCOME’s Danica Bolos survived a thrilling 40-minute duel with national team member Anna Patricia Barredo, hacking out a 21-15, 15-21, 21-16 victory to clinch the first semifinal berth in the Open women’s singles of the P1 million Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) tournament at the Powersmash in Makati yesterday.

Antonino Gadi, playing out of Golden Shuttle Foundation, also sustained his big straight-set win over Joper Escueta Thursday and eased out another Phl team mainstay Kevin Dalisay, 21-11, 21-11, in the lower bracket of the men’s side of the premier division in the three-category ranking tournament.

Action heated in the fifth day of the eight-day event put up by MVP Sports Foundation-Goal Pilipinas!, Bingo Bonanza Corp. and Victor to determine the real strength of the players for the national ranking.

Gelita Castilo and Nikki Therese Servando pulled off a pair of victories to arrange a semis showdown in the lower half of the Open draw.

Meanwhile, the semis and the finals of the Open, U-19 and U-15 (singles, men’s and ladies doubles and mixed doubles) will be held at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, according to tournament chairman Nelson Asuncion.

Castilo, of Li-Ning/PNP, disposed of Marilou Romero of Victor, 21-11, 21-7, while Servando of Victor-PCOME reasserted her mastery of Cassandra Grace Lim, 21-16, 21-8.

Bolos, who also went through a three-setter in edging Michal Duquilla, 21-18, 11-21, 21-15, in the Last 16 Thursday, will face Ma. Bianca Carlos in the semis after the latter stopped Alizandra Candelario, 21-11, 21-10.

Patrick Natividad, also of GSF, toppled Phl team member Gabriel Villanueva, 26-24, 21-15, and took the first semis slot in the upper draw of the Open.

The tournament is backed by PLDT-Smart Foundation, Victor PCOME Industrial Sales, Gatorade and Powersmash with The Philippine STAR, TV5, Badminton Extreme Philippines Magazine, Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT and 103.5 WOW! as media partners.

Servando, a gem of a find from Bacolod, also led the semifinalists in the U-19 class as she outlasted Maria Victoria Vizmonte of GSF, 21-16, 21-14, to set a clash with Patrisha Malibiran, who downed Li-Ning’s Nicole Magno, 21-18, 21-12.

Danica San Ignacio and Ma. Bianca Carlos will dispute the other finals berth after outclassing Ma. Elisha Ongcuangco, 21-9, 21-4, and Pamela Lim, 21-6, 21-4, respectively.

 In the U-19 boys singles, Escueta took out Kevin Cudiamat, 21-12, 21-9, to lead the semis cast that includes John Kenneth Monterubio, Wilbert Natividad and Gerald Sibayan.