Gadi gains Open final; Alcala ousts U-19 2nd seed

MANILA, Philippines - Toby Gadi dominated Peter Gabriel Magnaye in straight sets to arrange a duel with Ralph Ian Mendez for the Open singles crown even as young Mark Alcala stunned No. 2 Carlos Cayanan to barge into the Under-19 finals of the MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) circuit at the Metro Sports Center in Lahug, Cebu City yesterday.

The top-seeded Gadi, seeking to extend his reign in the premier class of the event he dominated last year, overwhelmed the third-ranked Magnaye in the opener then hung tough to fashion out a 21-3, 21-7 triumph and arrange a title clash with No. 13 Mendez, who stopped Andrei Babad, 16-21, 21-7, 21-13, in the other semis clash.

Golden Shuttle Foundation teammates Gelita Castilo and Bianca Carlos forged an expected title showdown in the ladies Open singles by thumping their respective rivals with the former holding off Jen Cayetano, 21-14, 21-19, and the latter disposing of Bianca Legaspi, 21-6, 21-11.

But the day belonged to the 13-year-old Alcala, winner of four U-15 titles last year and vying in the tougher division this year, who grounded the second-seeded Cayanan, 21-18, 21-12, to reach the U-19 finals of the event sponsored by GOAL Pilipinas and organized by the Philippine Badminton Association.

But Alcala will have to double his effort as he slugs it out with third seed John Kenneth Monterubio, also of Phl team-Victor, who foiled JC Clarito, 21-17, 21-17, in the other semis clash in the event backed by official equipment sponsor Victor, exclusively distributed in the Phl by PCOME Industrial Sales, Inc.

Like Gadi, Alcala is tipped to run away with his fifth crown in the U-15 class as he bundled out Alexis Geverjuan of Whackers, 21-7, 21-13, to seal a title duel with No. 2 Patrick Gecosala of ETC Space Shuttle Kidapawan, who trounced Emilio Mangubat Jr., 21-18, 21-6.

Carlos likewise lined herself up for a golden double as she reached the finals of the girls U-19 with a 21-11, 21-11 romp over Marina Caculitan.