Carlos cops Yonex title

MANILA, Philippines - Former champion Ma. Bianca Ysabel Carlos upset last year’s champion Gelita Castilo, 15-21, 21-13, 21-15, for the open ladies singles crown of 2011 Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Championships recently. 

After losing the first set in only 12 minutes, Carlos, the 2009 titleholder, refused to give up in the second set and didn’t look back to win the ladies title at the Yonex Badminton court in Mandaluyong.

Castilo made a strong comeback by raking in five consecutive points to close the gap at 16-11, but a string of unforced errors gave Carlos some advantages in the third set, 21-14.

In the open men’s singles division, Antonino Benjamin Gadi claimed his fourth title by beating Ian Mendez, 21-7, 21-9 in merely 28 minutes in the event presented by Yonex, Juego and 100 plus.

Gadi is now the only champion in the Yonex-Sunrise Philippines tournament history to capture the open crown four consecutive times.  

In the juniors finals, Marina Caculitan pocketed two gold medals in her doubles events, winning the Under-15 girls doubles crown with Joella Geva De Vera and the Under-15 mixed doubles title with Gabriele Anton Vargas.