Top favorites advance in Smart Open

MANILA, Philippines - Heavy favorites Michael Cudiamat of Smash Pilipinas and Mark Shelley Alcala of Allied/NVBA overpowered their respective opponents to arrange a title rematch in the men’s singles of the Smart National Open Badminton Tournament 2015 at the Powersmash Badminton Center in Makati City yesterday.

The top-seeded Cudiamat downed Smash Pilipinas teammate No. 9 Frell Keeyan Gabuelo, 21-12, 21-19, while the second-ranked Alcala subdued Ateneo’s Sulton Al Hakim, 21-11, 21-15, to set up rematch of last year’s finale in this annual event bankrolled by Smart Communications.

Cudiamat is looking to avenge his 17-21, 21-17, 14-21 defeat to Alcala in last year’s gold medal match of this tournament backed by Sun Cellular, MVP Sports Foundation, Victor exclusively distributed by PCome Industrial Sales, Powersmash Badminton Center and Robinsons Place Manila.

In women’s singles, reigning titlist Lili Wang of Bingo Bonanza and second pick Sarah Joy Barredo of Smash Pilipinas moved a step closer to arranging a title rematch of their own after hurdling their respective foes.

Wang smashed Team ABR’s Beatrice Felizardo, 21-4, 21-4, while Barredo topped No. 8 Michal Dei Duquilla of FEU/ETC, 21-19, 21-14, to barge into the semifinals where the two will tackle No. 6 Monica Arianne Rivera of Smash Pilipinas and Indonesian Jessica Muljati of Bingo Bonanza, respectively.

Rivera made it through by eliminating top seed Pauline Marie Tan of University of the Philippines, 16-21, 21-16, 21-13, while Muljati dumped No. 7 Mariya Anghela Sevilla of Smash Pilipinas, 21-12, 21-16. 

Defending men’s doubles title-holders Peter Gabriel Magnaye and Paul Jefferson Vivas trounced Ateneo’s R-Jay Ormilla and Ros Leenard Pedrosa, 21-17, 21-13, to advance to the semifinals where the pair will face off with No. 3 Carlos Cayanan and John Paul Pantig, who edged No. 7 Christian Bernardo and Alvin Morada, 21-17, 21-18.