Veteran shuttlers show way; Alcala dominates

MANILA, Philippines - The national team mainstays made a daring assault of the men’s singles main draw even as new talents emerged in the women’s side of the Philippine National Open-Ming Ramos Youth Camp Badminton Championships at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall yesterday.

Seven national shuttlers rammed their way to the quarterfinals following impressive wins led by top seed Paul Vivas who subdued fellow national player Kevin Alfred Dalisay with a 21-16, 21-13 victory in an action-packed 24-minute duel.

Meanwhile, Markie Alcala, 14, stunned top seed JC Clarito, 21-14, 21-18, to crash into the quarterfinal round of the boys’ singles U-19 divison of the tournament sponsored by Victor/PCOME, Bingo Bonanza, Sun Cellular and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Alcala, easily the country’s most promising junior, earlier thwarted Leandro Jose De Dios, 21-13, 21-18, to reach third round while Clarito held off Anthony Chen, 21-19, 21-19.

The 20-year-old Vivas and Dalisay delighted the crowd as they exchanged booming smashes and feathery drop shots but the Phl team veteran proved steadier and pulled off the big shots down the stretch.

Yet things will be tougher ahead for Vivas as he will challenge the more experienced Christopher Flores in the next round in the premier division of the tournament.

Flores, who came back to the fold after a brief stint as an instructor in the US, fought off complacency in the second set to repel Robert Aloyan of Jaguar Badminton Academy, 21-23, 22-24, 21-17, in a match that ran for 36 minutes.

Only Alex Borromeo of Escoses Training Camp and Ralph Ian Mendez of Whacker BA Li-Ning managed to squeeze a place in the elite men’s singles quarters after beating Lawrence Palomer of Babolat Academy and Marius Zapanta of Team Albo, respectively.

Borromeo, who became the man to watch after a stunning second-round win over national player Andrei Babad, blasted Palomer, 21-19, 21-11,

to face national junior team stalwart John Monterubio. Mendez drubbed Zapanta, 21-10, 21-16.

Monterubio barged into the next round with a methodical 21-8, 21-11 triumph over Ernesto Layao Jr. of JBA. Also winning their third-round assignments were nationals Michael Kevin Cudiamat, Peter Gabriel Magnaye and Philip Jofer Escueta.

Cudiamat thrashed Jose Lorenzo Yason, 21-10, 21-8, to set up a quarters duel with Mendez. Magnaye routed Mark Magboo, 21-12, 21-9, and will next face Escueta, who dumped Gen Vincent Fabro, 21-4, 21-5.

In women’s singles, Janelle Gloriane de Vera of Whackers advanced to the quarters after a grueling 18-21, 22-20, 21-12 win over La Salle’s Danica San Ignacio.

De Vera will battle Priscilla Joyce Po of Escoses Training Camp who beat Rachel Gabrielle Dizer, 21-9, 21-4. Also making the next round were Alizandra Candelaria, Jennifer Cayetano and Flo Lamigo, Candelaria edged Danica Bolos, 21-17, 16-21, 21-16, to set up a match against Cayetano who drubbed Dorothy Pagarigan, 21-8, 21-7.

Lamiga made it following a 21-6, 21-3 rout of Jeiel Ruth Regala. She will take on second seed Descka Calimlim who took a bye to the quarters along with top seed Malvinne Ann Venice Alcala. Michal Dei Duquilla also advanced via walkover and will face Alcala next.