Alcala overwhelms Carlos, makes PBaRS semis

MANILA, Philippines - Malvinne Alcala mastered Bianca Carlos in a duel of fancied bets, fashioning out a 21-10, 21-9 romp to roll into the semifinal round of the Open ladies singles in the MVP Sports Foundation-Bingo Bonanza Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) tournament at the Pohang Badminton Courts in Bacolod City yesterday.

Alcala showed the form that won her the Li-ning Australia Juniors crown recently and outplayed Carlos throughout, dethroning the defending champion in 25 minutes while putting her on track of the crown in the premier division she missed while competing Down Under last March.

The 16-year-old national team mainstay – and the country’s leading player today – will face Danica Bolos for a berth in the finals after the latter stopped giant-killer Paula Filart, 21-13, 21-13, in the other Last 8 clash in the upper bracket of the tournament put up by Vice President Jejomar Binay, Rep. Albee Benitez and businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan and backed by official equipment sponsor Victor, exclusively distributed by PCOME Industrial Sales, Inc. in the country.

Second seed Gelita Castilo of Golden Shuttle Foundation, meanwhile, survived Reyne Calimlim of La Salle, 21-23, 21-12, 21-11, to set up a Final Four clash with another La Salle bet, Pauline Ramos, who shocked fourth seed Cassandra Lim in a thrilling finish, 20-22, 21-15, 24-22.

Top seed defending champion Antonino Gadi waylaid Andrei Babad, 21-6, 21-13, to arrange an explosive semis showdown with Peter Magnaye in the Open men’s singles of the ranking tournament backed by PLDT-Smart Foundation, 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.

Magnaye bundled out U-19 defending champion Joper Escueta, 21-13, 21-18.

Kevin Dalisay of Phl/Victor snapped Lloyd Escoses’ run with a 21-8, 21-15 romp to advance to the semis against Paul Vivas, also of Phl/Victor, who trounced Jaime Junio, 21-9, 21-15.

While yielding the Open title, Carlos stayed on course of her title-retention bid in the Under-19 class as she whipped Angelica Muyrong, 21-6, 21-8, for a semis duel with Lim, who repulsed Danica San Ignacio, 21-15, 18-21, 22-20.