Nationals win PBaRS opener

MANILA, Philippines - National team mainstays Malvinne Ann Alcala and Aldreen Rae Concepcion knocked off their respective rivals in varying fashions to lead the winners in the girls’ Under-19 singles of the MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) tournament which got under way at Powersmash in Makati yesterday.

Alcala, unseeded but one of the fancied bets in both the U-19 and Open divisions, shook off a first-set struggle then pounded her way to a 21-13, 21-7 romp over Glyvette Etis of La Salle in 25 minutes while Concepcion recovered from a second set meltdown to turn back Golden Shuttle Foundation’s Nicole Nieto, 21-19, 12-21, 21-12.

Also advancing to the Last 32 phase where Nos. 1 Bianca Carlos and No. 2 Patrisha Malibiran have been seeded are Whackers’ Mary Ann Maranon, La Salle’s Denise Javier and Janine Peligrino, JCB’s Grezel Alcuitas, Jaime Llanes Training Club’s Lourdes Romero and Ilocos Sur’s Liana Tolentino,

Maranon toppled Eunella Durana, 21-3, 21-5; Javier blasted Mikaela Pardalis, 21-5, 21-6; Peligrino won via default over Rebecca Leonardo; Alcuitas saw off Danica Enriquez, 21-11, 21-7; Romero held off Faith Medrano, 21-13, 22-20; and Tolentino dominated Mae Buena, 21-7, 21-5.

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, is the country’s only ranking tournament, which serves as the eighth leg of the nationwide circuit.

 Nepthali Pineda beat Marcus Leonardo, 21-6, 21-15; Glenn Camillo repulsed Emilio Mangubat, 21-13, 17-21, 21-16; and Edrickson Malibiran outlasted Miguel Tiano, 23-21, 21-17, to lead the winners in the boys’ U-19 singles. Others who advanced were Kevin Fabros, Leandro de Dios, John Peralta, Carl Grengia, Enrico Asuncion, Adrian Rigonan, Carl Clemente, Kelvin Calomarde, Tomas Fernandez, Gerloth Delizo, Patrick Gecosala, John Yabut and Vincent Figueroa.

Jake Hernandez upended Marc Roda, 17-21, 21-16, 22-20; Renan Masongsong edged Marvin Bahia, 21-8, 16-21, 21-6, in the other three setter in the boys U-15 singles of the event backed by the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine Sports Commission, the PBA and official equipment sponsor Victor, exclusively distributed in the country by PCOME Industrial Sales, Inc.

For tournament results, visit tournamentsoftware.com, according to tournament director Nelson Asuncion.