Magnaye-Francisco prevails in three, makes semifinals

MANILA, Philippines – Joint third ranked Peter Magnaye and Jessie Francisco fought back strong from an opening set setback and turned back Joper Escueta and Indonesian Keshya Hanadia, 13-21, 21-19, 21-18, to barge into the semifinal round of the Open mixed doubles of the Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at Glorietta 5 Atrium in Makati City yesterday.

Magnaye and Francisco proved steadier in a back-and-forth second set duel then weathered Escueta and Hanadia’s rally in the decider with clutch smashes and drop shots to pound out the 45-minute victory for a Final Four clash with No. 2 and fellow PBA-Smash Pilipinas bets Alvin Morada and Alyssa Leonardo.

Morada and Leonardo combined well from start to finish and dominated Carlos Cayanan and Alyssa Geverjuan to complete a 21-12, 21-14 victory in just 25 minutes in the event sponsored by Bingo Bonanza and backed by official equipment Victor PCOME and official sports drink Gatorade.

Ronel Estanislao and Indonesian partner Marissa Vita posted the event’s biggest reversal late Thursday when they stunned top seed Paul Pantig and Thea Pomar, 21-12, 21-14, to clinch the first semifinal berth. The Estanislao-Vita pair, however, will face defending champion Paul Vivas and Eleanor Inlayo for a crack at the championship.

Vivas and Inlayo primed up for their defense of the crown by subduing the other third seeded pair of Christian Bernardo and Joella de Vera, 21-11, 21-11.

The Estanislao-Vita pair and Vivas-Inlayo tandem dispute the first finals berth today starting at 11 a.m., also at Glorietta, while the Magnaye-Francisco team slugs it out with Morada and Leonardo for the other championship slot.

Victor-PCOME’s Danica Bolos and Jennifer Cayetano of Air Force also pulled off a 12-21, 21-16, 21-18 reversal over No. 4 Descka Calimlim and Fatima Cruz of Meralco to book the first semis berth in the Open women’s doubles.

Vita and Hanadia also teamed up to oust the top seeded pair of Francisco and Inlayo, 21-8, 21-17, as the Indonesians arranged a semis duel with Leonardo and Pomar, who trounced Klowie Garcia and Hanah Tudtud, 21-10, 21-11.

No. 2 Aires Montilla and Kristelle Salatan dominated Aldreen Concepcion and Susmita Ramos, 21-14, 21-11, for a semis clash with Bolos and Cayetano.

Meanwhile, second seed Mark Alcala of Allied-NVBA trounced Alvin Morada, 21-12, 21-11, also late Thursday to set up a semis duel with No. 4 R-Jay Ormilla, who bundled out fifth seed Jason Obaob, 21-14, 21-19, in the Open men’s singles of the event organized by EventKing Corp. and sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez.

Also on tap are the Open women’s singles semis pitting the surging Mariya Sevilla against No. 4 Airah Albo and defending champion Gelita Castilo battling it out with second seed Sarah Barredo.

Alcala, on the other hand, tries to re-assert his mastery over Ormilla, whom he beat to cop the crown last year, in their 1:20 p.m. showdown while top seed Kevin Cudiamat and No. 8 Frell Gabuela dispute the other finals berth in the Open men’s singles.

All finals matches, in the event backed by Glorietta, Smash Pilipinas and the Philippine Olympic Committee, will be held tomorrow (Sunday).