Cudiamat, Barredo barge into q’finals

There was no stopping top seeds Kevin Cudiamat and Sarah Joy Barredo from marching to the quarterfinals of the Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton at CW Home Depot Ortigas Thursday.

Flashing mean forms, Cudiamat handily defeated Cris Sanchez, 21-13, 21-17, while Barredo routed Anne Macabenta, 21-12, 21-4, to charge to the next round in the men’s and women’s singles, respectively.

Cudiamat, who like Barredo is playing for PBA Smash Pilipinas, will take on Ateneo’s Clarence Filart who got through with a 21-12, 21-10 win over Edwin Doods.

Sharing the spotlight in the weeklong event were Orlan Ticala and Solomon Padiz Jr.

Padiz, seeded sixth, defeated wild card Christian Cuyno, 21-17, 16-21, 21-11, to arrange a quarterfinal duel against Ticala of Prima Pasta.

Ticala advanced after a come-from-behind win over Ateneo’s Carlo Remo, 17-21,
21-15, 23-21.

Action in the event sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association shifts to SM Megamall in Mandaluyong for tomorrow’s semifinals and Sunday’s finals.

In other matches, Alem Palmares continued his upset run with a 23-21, 21-14 triumph over Fides Bagasbas.

The National University ace had earlier disposed of eighth seed Wilson Lopez, 21-12, 15-21, 21-16, in the second round.

He will next face third seed Ros Pedrosa for a spot in the semifinals at 10 a.m. today.

Pedrosa, also a PBA Smash mainstay, held off Lanz Zafra, 22-20, 21-18, to stay in the hunt, along with No. 5 R-Jay Ormilla of Team Prima, who routed wild card Benny Divinagracia, 21-10, 21-8.

No. 2 Frell Gabuelo is likewise through after trouncing Jerome Pechera, 21-9, 21-7.