SARAH JOY Barredo of Smash Pilipinas scored a dominating 21-11, 21-16 victory over Samantha Santos on the day unranked veteran Gelita Castillo stunned top seed and PH No. 1 Airah Albo, 21-15, 21-15, in yesterday’s third round of the P1.5 million Bingo Bonanza National Open badminton tournament at Rizal Memorial Badminton Center.
The fifteen-year-old Barredo, who practically grew up at RMBC courts where her mother works, found all the right angles and fired smashes at will in scoring the sensational victory and making the women’s open quarterfinals.
A many-time Palarong Pambansa gold medalist, Barredo was never in danger in the 30-minute encounter as she used her familiarity of the court and quickness to hammer out the win.
However, that set her up with an early clash against title favorite Malvinne Alcala, who scored a 21-17, 21-12 rout of Mika Aquino. The last time they faced each other, Alcala beat Barredo for the 2013 Philippine National Games gold medal.
Alcala is trying to regain her footing in local shores after a brief campaign in the United States. Her father, former national team coach Malvin, bared that her US run was cut short after the 18-year-old was hospitalized in Florida for typhoid fever.
Castillo brought down Albo in straight sets to set a duel with Alyssa Geverjuan, who drubbed Ann Masongsong, 21-13, 21-12, to progress.
In men’s singles, No. 2 Kevin Cudiamat recovered from an opening set loss to defeat Frell Gabuelo, 15-21, 21-11, 21-17, in the event sponsored by Bingo Bonanza and organized by EventKing.
Third seed Pauline Tan outlasted Patrisha Malibiran in an exciting, see-saw match, 21-19, 19-21, 21-16. Tan, who like Alcala and Castillo, plays for Allied Victor, will tangle with Team Prima’s Annelyn Alba, who eliminated Janel Dihiansan, 21-18, 21-16.