PBA-Smash bets shine
MARIYA Sevilla overwhelmed Klowie Garcia of FEU, 21-11, 21-11, in the women’s Open singles yesterday to lead the charge of PBASmash Pilipinas bets at the start of the P1.5-million Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
Other PBA-Smash Pilipinas standouts who advanced to the round of 16 were Charmaine Salvador, who routed Mae Pomar, 217, 21-14, in women’s singles and Carlos Cayanan and Alyssa Geverjuan, who thwarted Meralco’s Sidney de Jesus and Fatima Cruz, 18-21, 21-10, 21-17, in the mixed doubles.
Also advancing for PBASmash were Joper Escueta, who teamed up with Indonesian Keshya Hanadia to rout Vince Lagnada and Mae Pomar of FEU/Equuiparco-BBC, 21-11, 21-11, and Ronel Estanila, who joined Indonesian Marissa Vita in a 21-11, 21-11 dumping of JC Clarito and Almira Ramos of Yappies Badminton Group.
Jessica Muljati of Shamrock and Aldreen Mae Concepcion of Allied-NVBA also gained ground in the meet sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association with ranking points on offer.
Concepcion crushed Lyceum’s Joy Tubongbanua, 21-6, 21-8, and Muljati posted a 21-6, 21-3 demolition of Irish Molina.
Defending champion Gelita Castillo drew an opening-day bye along with the second-ranked Sarah Joy Barredo and top seed Pauline Tan of Maynilad.
Sevilla’s conquest put the national pool member in a collision course with Tan for a quarterfinal seat.
In the men’s Open, Timothy Alvar walloped Arsen Alvarez, 21-7, 21-16, to gain the second round opposite Lyceum’s Adrian Ramos. Christian Sison cruised to the next phase with a walkover victory over Renz Lumaday
Escueta and Hanadia face Maynilad’s Paolo Dawal and Diosan Abangan next.