Barredo, Albo seal finals duel in Nat’l Open Badminton

National team mainstays Sarah Joy Barredo and Aira Mae Nicole Albo forged a championship showdown in the women’s singles of the Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament.

The No. 2-ranked Barredo dethroned defending champion Gelita Castilo of University of the Philippines, 18-21, 21-16, 21-17, in a rematch of last year’s finals held at Glorietta 5 Atrium in Makati City.

Barredo, a 16-year-old senior high school from Philippine Women’s University, got back at Castilo to arrange the finale with Albo, who also pulled off a come-from-behind 16-21, 21-14, 21-10 win over unseeded Mariya Anghela Sevilla.

In mixed doubles play, Ronel Estanislao and Marissa Vita of Indonesia entered the finals after trouncing the highly favored duo of Paul Jefferson Vivas and Eleanor Christine Inlayo, 19-21, 21-16, 21-2.

They’ll meet another suprise contender in Alvin Morada and Alyssa Ysabel Leonardo, who scored a 21-16, 17-21, 21-12 upset of Swiss International Open champion Peter Magnaye and Jessie Francisco.