Carlos, Malibiran stay on collision course

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed defending champion Bianca Carlos and No. 2 Patrisha Malibiran rolled to their second straight-set victories to storm into the quarterfinal round of the girls’ Under-19 class while No. 1 Clarence Filart and second ranked Miguel Leonardo led the Final 8 cast in the boys’ side of the MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) tournament at Powersmash in Makati City yesterday.

Carlos, eyeing a repeat sweep of the U-19 and Open singles titles, blasted Mary Ann Maranon with another superb all-around game, scoring a 21-10, 21-16 victory to seal a quarters clash with Alyssa Geverjuan, who repulsed fifth seed Cassandra Lim, 16-21, 21-18, 21-13, in the upper half of the draw.

Malibiran, on the other hand, whisked off Janine Peligrino, 21-12, 21-13, to arrange a quarters faceoff with No. 8 Marina Caculitan, who subdued Rae Concepcion in a thriller of a three-setter, 23-21, 18-21, 22-20.

No. 4 Janelle de Vera stamped her class over Dominique Muyrong, 21-9, 21-13, to forge a duel for a semis berth with Mariya Sevilla, who posted the other upset in the U-19 category by ousting No. 6 Louise Ramos, 21-13, 21-18.

Shane Salvador clipped Alfoneth Alcuitas, 21-9, 21-13, to clinch the other quarters berth in the country’s only ranking tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association and 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.

Filart, a Golden Shuttle Foundation mainstay like Carlos and Malibiran, scored a second walkover win, this time against Glenn Camillo, to lead the Final 8 cast in the boys’ U-19 singles, along with Leonardo, of Jaime Llanes Training Club, who tripped Edgard Reyes, 21-16, 21-23, 21-11; Frell Gebuelo, who eased out Edrickson Malibiran, 21-13, 21-9; Joshua Monterubio, who held off Jan Sinfuego, 21-16, 21-18; Elijah Boac, who overpowered Rogine Sola, 21-14, 21-12; Kevin Chan, who wore down Carl Clemente, 21-23, 21-10, 27-25; Glenn Remo, who thwarted Alexis Geverjuan, 21-19, 21-17; and fancied Mark Alcala, who smothered Jerickson Oba-ob, 21-12, 21-17.

Meanwhile, top-notch badminton action shifts to Robinsons Place-Manila beginning today as the title chase heats up with quarterfinal round matches in all divisions featuring members of the national team.

In girls’ U-15 singles, Kyle Geronimo of MSI Jr. Team upended No. 8 Joyce Santos, 21-17, 11-21, 21-13, to barge into the quarters against top seed Alyssa Geverjuan, who demolished Maria Tumbali, 21-9, 21-8.