Gadi, Carlos extend reign in MVP-PBaRS badminton

MANILA, Philippines - Toby Gadi racked up his seventh straight Open singles crown while Bianca Carlos made it three-in-row even as two new faces emerged in the MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) seventh leg in San Fernando, Pampanga yesterday.

The top seeded Gadi, 24, overcame a shaky start with a stronger finish, thwarting No. 2 Patrick Natividad with a variety of shots in the last two sets for a 16-21, 21-15, 21-11 victory, his seventh straight championship in the centerpiece division of the country’s only ranking tournament sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation.

Carlos, on the other hand, mastered Golden Shuttle Foundation teammate Gelita Castilo, fashioning out a 21-15, 21-13 romp in 40 minutes at the Excel Badminton Center to reign as women’s Open singles champion for the third straight time.

At presstime, the St. Paul College Pasig mainstay was gunning for another golden double, trading shots with No. 2 Patrisha Malibiran in the girls’ U-19 singles finals of the event sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay with sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan as chairman and Rep. Albee Benitez as sec-gen.

Roslee Pedrosa, a PBA stalwart, sustained his top form to finally achieve a dream championship in the annual event, upending No. 9 Alvin Morada, 21-16, 21-12, and capturing the boys’ U-19 diadem. 

It was an impressive title romp by Pedrosa, who never dropped a set in six matches, including a 21-12, 21-16 reversal over sixth ranked Christian Cuyno in the third round and a 21-17, 21-19 victory over No. 10 Joshua Monterubio in the quarterfinals.

In a duel of unfancied bets, Daniel Pantanosas of Corpus Christi outplayed Jourele Antonio of City Shuttle-JB, 21-18, 21-14, to bag the boys’ Under-15 singles crown in the event backed by Victor, exclusively distributed in the Philippines by PCOME Industrial Salves, Inc.

Pantanosas rode on the momentum of his stirring three-set triumph over third seed John Bernardo in the semis as he pressed his bid against Antonio early then kept his rival on the defensive end majority of the final match.

Seventh seed Iyah Sevilla held off PBA teammate and No. 6 Aldreen Concepcion, 21-18, 21-15, to pocket the girls’ U-15 singles title in the event supported by Gatorade, Vineza, Sincere Construction and Krav Maga Philippines with TV 5, The Philippine STAR and Badminton Extreme Philippines Magazine as media partners.

Carlos Cayanan and Morada, meanwhile, stunned No. 4 Monterubio and Paul Pantig, 21-10, 21-14, to snatch the boys’ U-19 doubles crown while John Bernardo and Chanelle Lunod routed Leon Escobar and Joyce Santos, 21-10, 21-11, to pocket the U-15 mixed doubles title.