MARIYA Sevilla caught No. 1 seed Pauline Tan by surprise and progressed to the crucial stages of the Bingo Bonanza National Open badminton tournament.
The PBA-Smash Pilipinas ace bounced back from a lethargic opening set to throw Tan off the course, 13-21, 21-18, 21-18, in the women’s singles’ titular race held at Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall yesterday.
All pumped up following an imposing victory over Klowie Garcia in Tuesday’s opener, Sevilla matched Tan’s fighting spirit with a variety of smashes and drop shots that lasted an hour on her way to the quarterfinals where Tricia Pomar of FEU/Equiparco-BBC is waiting.
Pomar advanced after pulling off a 21-15, 19-21, 21-15 win over Marie Lorenzana.
Defending champion Gelita Castillo of University of the Philippines also advanced to the final eight after hacking out a 19-21, 21-9, 21-10 win over Jennifer Cayetano of Air Force.
Up next for Castillo is Shane Salvador, another PBA-Smash mainstay who defeated Beverly Lagnada, 21-12, 21-9.
In men’s singles, top-ranked Kevin Cudiamat of PBA-Smash showed Larry Valerio the door, 21-10, 21-9, before cruising to a 21-5, 21-10 win over Akishiete Hilario to lead the quarterfinalists in the tourney sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association.
After a stroll in his first two matches, Cudiamat takes on his biggest challenge yet in No. 6 Kenneth Monterubio of Allied-NVBA. Monterubio beat Russel Enriquez, 21-9, 21-11.
Third-ranked Kevin Dalisay, also of Allied-NVBA, toppled Orlan Ticala, 21-18, 21-15, for a quarterfinal duel with No. 8 Frell Gabuelo of PBA-Smash. Gabuelo scored a 21-17, 21-9 triumph over Christian Sison.
Sarah Barredo, last year’s women’s singles runner-up, asserted her mastery over Hanah Tudtud, 21-16, 21-6, setting up a quarterfinal tiff with PBA-Smash teammate Arriane Rivera.
Also winning his first two games was fourth-ranked Jay Ormilla, who subdued Michael Saragena, 21-15, 21-12, for that much-awaiting face-off with No. 5 Jason Oba-ob of Air Force.