Alcala, Remo pace Ming Youth Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Fancied Mark Shelley Alcala and joint No. 2 Carlo Remo swept their respective rivals to reach the third round of the boys’ Under-19 singles while Micah Quion and Terence Pomar gained in the ladies side in the PBA-Victor Ming Ramos Youth Cup Badminton Championships at the PSC Badminton Hall at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex yesterday.

Alcala, a member of the national juniors team and younger brother of the country’s top lady player Malvinne Ann, dropped Gabriel Santos with a clinical 21-3, 21-1 victory while Remo, of Escoses Training Camp, eased out Diego Libiran, 21-13, 21-17, in the premier division of the event put up by Philippine Badminton Association honorary chair and former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos to help boost the country’s junior badminton program.

Quion, of Allied Victor UP, held off Andrea Burgos, 21-12, 21-18, while Pomar, also of Escoses TC, outplayed Joymee Banting, 21-14, 21-11, to lead the early winners in the girls’ U-19 class where Malvinne Ann is the top seed.

The other boys’ U-19 winners were Shaw Sangalang, Jerry Katoh, Juan Fidel Manegdeg, Frell Gabuelo, Chino Olaguer, Ros Pedrosa, Rommel Villanueva, Leandro De Dios, CK Clemente, Benjie Abalos, Gareth Dizer and Carl Eugenio.

Joint top seeds Earl Baes and Ramon Timothy Santos, meanwhile, swept their respective rivals to lead the surge of the fancied bets in the boys’ Under-13 class while Ariana Belen and Shaine Alonzo dominated the girls’ side in the event sponsored by Victor, exclusively distributed by PCOME Industrial Sales Inc., and the PBA’s official equipment sponsor.

Baes, of Allied Victor UP, dropped just four points to oust Vincent Catalan, 21-3, 21-1, while Santos, of MSI Junior Team Babolat, whisked off Derryk Esteban, 21-4, 21-15, to advance to the second round of the five-day event which drew a huge field of 620 youngsters from 54 teams nationwide.

Joining Baes and Santos in the Last 32 are Alron Alonzo, Zach Fontanilla, Kyle Basili. Third Victoria, Carlos del Rosario, John Arcasetas, Ian Santos and Arthur Salvado.

Belen, playing out of Batang Kuya AI BA, disposed of Feeby Ferrer, 21-10, 21-15, while Alonzo of Whackers Badminton Academy, trounced Janelle Santos, 21-10, 21-13, to likewise reach the Last 32 along with Allyssa Miaco, Graciella Etis, Isabelle Pollentes, Jochelle Alvarez, Mica Ibong, Angelika dela Cruz, Francesca Cavero and Jeila Lamberang.

Fancied Juan Carlos Nadong of Babolat Academy scored a 21-9, 21-13 romp over Steven Go to lead the early winners in the boys’ U-15 class.

Other winners were Luigi Tolentino, Paolo Olango, Michael Clemente, Miguel Pangilinan, James Monterubio, Benny Divinagracia, Steven Go, Ralph Cruz, Daniel Anglo, Mark Bahia, Jovy Danganan, Jan Simbulan, Marc Lo, Justin Lua and Ronald Ongpauco.