Top seeds set for FDG Cup title collision

Manila, Philippines - The joint No. 1 pairs of Ariel delos Santos-Gabriel Villanueva and Ronel Estanislao-Paul Vivas strung up victories in scary fashions to stay on course of the Open men’s doubles title showdown in the FDG Cup 2011 National Open and Invitational badminton tournament at PowerSmash in Makati last Friday.

Delos Santos and Villanueva of Phl team-Victor, who drew a bye and scored a walkover win in the first two rounds, survived the tough joint No. 8 team of Prince de Jesus and Joel Estrada, 21-10, 18-21, 21-16, to advance to the semifinal round of the centerpiece event offering a record purse of P160,000.

They were to face joint No. 5 Andre Babad and Peter Magnaye for a spot in the finals after the latter posted three straight-set romps, including a 21-16, 21-19 win over The STAR’s Alex Borromeo and Edison Cupcupin in the quarters of the annual tournament held in honor of Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick Go.

World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei graced the eighth staging of the event by teaming up with Go against fellow Malaysian Koo Kien Keat, currently the world No. 4 in men’s doubles with Boon Heong Tan, and top Filipino player Kennevic Asuncion in an exhibition match, highlighting the two-day event.

The tournament also featured the Invitational side, which included employees and business partners of Robinsons Land Corp., which consists of the company’s suppliers, contractors, architects, designers and construction managers.

Estanislao and Vivas, who split the top honors with Delos Santos-Villanueva in the first two legs of the PBaRS tournament, didn’t drop a set on their way to the semis. But they had to go through some anxious moments before defusing Patrick Natividad and Paolo Sunga, 23-21, 21-18, in the Last 16 and Ralph Mendez and Nico Saquin, 22-20, 21-17, in the quarters.

They booked a semis duel with Michael Paclibar and Recson Salvaleon of RLC, who subdued Wilfredo Amoroso and Kevin Dalisay, 21-15, 21-18.

The top two seeds in women’s doubles likewise made it to the semis with No. 1 Gelita Castilo and Dia Magno breezing through with three straight-set victories, including a 21-9, 21-16 romp over Aires Montilla and Kristelle Salatan in the quarters.

They were to meet Team FEU’s Jennifer Cayetano and Katherine Mayono, who stunned joint third seed Malvinne Alcala and Danica San Ignacio, 20-22, 21-16, 21-16, in a thrilling 45-minute victory.

No. 2 Julie Anne Vallarta and Ma. Isabelle Villaran of Robinsons Land eked out a pair of three-setters in the first two rounds, including a 26-28, 21-15, 21-13 win over Anna Barredo and Pia Fabros in the Last 16, then downed Therine Chan and Mia Villarin, 21-14, 21-18, in the quarters.

Team Prima’s Francesca Bermejo and Rosalie Soberano held off Bianca Carlos and Trixie Malibiran, 22-20, 21-15, to clinch the last seat in the semis of the event which stakes over P500,000 in cash prizes.

Estanislao and Alcala, meanwhile, swept their way to the Final Four of the mixed doubles category, including a 21-11, 21-15 win over JC Clarito and Flo Lamigo to set up a clash with Alfredo Mailon Jr. and Ma. Isabelle Villaran, who upset No. 3 Kevin Dalisay and Pia Fabros, 21-18, 21-19.

Antonino Gadi and Gelita Castilo beat Wilfredo Amoroso and Rochelle Reyes, 21-12, 21-14, for a semis showdown with Patrick Natividad and Bianca Carlos, who booted out Kevin Cudiamat and Clarissa Pascual, 21-19, 21-12.