Gadi cruises, Alcala rallies en route to PBaRS crowns

MANILA, Philippines - Antonino Gadi and Markie Alcala churned out victories in varying fashions to rule their respective divisions in the inaugural MVP Sports Foundation-Bingo Bonanza Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) tournament at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig late Sunday.

Gadi, who trounced fancied Joper Escueta in a Last 16 duel, overwhelmed Patrick Natividad in the finals, 21-16, 21-10, to clinch the Open men’s singles crown and complete the domination by the Golden Shuttle Foundation bets in the premier division.

Ma. Bianca Ysabel Carlos earlier beat Gelita Castilo, 21-17, 21-14, to pocket the ladies singles plum in the P1 million ranking tournament sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation-Goal Pilipinas! Bingo Bonanza Corp. and Victor-PCOME. Gadi and Carlos each won P70,000.

Alcala, on the other hand, battled back from a first set loss to turn back Alvin Morada, 12-21, 21-19, 21-15, and cop the Under-15 boys’ singles crown worth P10,000. It was the 13-year-old Allied-Victor bet’s third win in four matches that went into full route.

National team members Aries delos Santos and Gabriel Villanueva beat Ronel Estanislao and Paul Vivas, 21-13, 21-14, to capture the Open men’s doubles title while Castilo and Nicole Magno took the ladies plum with a 21-13, 21-13 victory over Cheska Bermejo and Rosalee Soberano.

Peter Magnaye and Saro Fullante, meanwhile, bagged the Opem mixed doubles crown with a 21-13, 21-12 romp over Marco Bermejo and Cheska Bermejo. The Open division winners all took home P70,000.

Joella de Vera of Whackers BA repulsed Alyssa Leonardo, 19-21, 21-15, 21-9, to snatch the U-15 girls singles plum while Anton Vargas and Marina Caculitan took the U-15 mixed doubles title with a 21-7, 21-18 victory over Raphael Deato and Eleanor Inlayo.

The other winners in the eight-day event, 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, were Vincent Manuel and Alvin Morada (U-15 boys doubles), Marina Caculitan and Joella de Vera (U-15 girls doubles), Kevin Cudiamat and Janelle de Vera (U-19 mixed doubles), Kenneth Monterubio and Gerald Sibayan (U-19 boys doubles) and Bianca Carlos and Patrisha Mabiliran (U-19 girls doubles.)