Castillo scores big in Bingo Bonanza netfest

MANILA, Philippines – Allied Victor's Gelita Castillo came through with the biggest victory of the P1.5 million Bingo Bonanza National Open badminton tournament thus far after she slew top seed Airah Mae Nicole Albo of Smash Pilipinas, 21-15, 21-15, Friday to advance to the quarterfinals at the Rizal Badminton Center.

Castillo, who smashed Golden Shuttle Foundation's Samantha Ramos, 21-10, 21-6, the day before, had all the answers to Albo in eking out the shock win that set her up against another Smash Pilipinas netter Alyssa Geverjuan, who downed Allied Victor's Ann Jeline Masongsong, 21-13, 21-12, in the quarters.

Fancied Victor Malvinne "Poca" Alcala continued her march deeper into this four-day ranking championship sponsored by Bingo Bonanza Corp. after she turned back a feisty Mika Aquino of Adamson, 21-17, 21-12.

The 19-year-old Alcala, unseeded here but is tipped to win it all thanks to her vast international experience highlighted by her Singapore and Australian Juniors triumphs, thus forged a round-of-eight duel with second pick Sarah Joy Barredo of Smash Pilipinas, who grounded Ateneo's Samantha Santos, 21-11, 21-16.

Also making it through in the women's singles of this event sanctioned by the Phl Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and secretary-general Rep. Albee Benitez and organized by EventKing Corp. were No. 3 Pauline Marie Tan and Mary Ann Maranon of Allied Victor, Team Prima's Annelyn Alba and No. 4  Monica Arianne Rivera of Smash.

Tan edged Ateneo's Patrisha Malibiran, 21-19, 19-21, 21-16; Alba bested Ateneo's Janel Adrianne Dihiansan, 21-18, 21-16; Maranon clobbered Adamson's Christine Garin, 21-9, 21-12; and Rivera crushed Ateneo's Shawntel Nicole Nieto, 21-4, 21-18.

No. 2 Michael Kevin Cudiamat of Allied overcame  a gritty Frell Keeyan Gabuelo of Smash with a come-from-behind 15-21, 21-11, 21-17 win to lead the march of the seeds into the Last Eight.

The victory arranged Cudiamat an interesting showdown with No. 5 R-Jay Omilla, who overwhelmed Yappies Smashers' Jc Clarito, 21-13, 21-12.

No. 3 Rabie Jayson Oba-ob of Smash waylaid Team Prima's Gerald Sibayan, 21-17, 21-8, and No. 7 Kevin Alfred Dalisay of Allied routed Escoses Training Camp's Adrian Ramos, 21-11-21-12, to arrange a quarters meeting.

Also surging ahead were No. 6 John Kenneth Monterubio of Allied, who bashed UST's John Paul Yabut, 21-14; Ateneo's Carlo Remo, who outclassed FEU's Vince Vaslee Lagnada, 21-12, 21-12; Ateneo's Clarence Filart, who trounced Allied's Carl Kristian Clemente, 21-12, 21-18; and Allied's Mark Alcala, who sent teammate Jon Jelson Masongsong back to Earth with a 21-13, 21-4 rout.