Orillaneda rules; PH aces gain finals

QIAN Xi Orillaneda hacked out a topsy-turvy title victory in the girls’ singles under-13 on the day national team aces took their respective places in the Open finals of the Philippine National Open-Ming Ramos Youth Camp championships at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall yesterday.

Orillaneda of MSI JR Team climbed back from 14-20 deficit in the first set and eventually won the match on a shot that tipped over the net to frustrate Aldreen Concepcion, 22-20, 11-21, 21-19, and capture the championship in her division.

The pair of Marina Caculitan and Joella Geva de Vera also fashioned out a pulsating victory in the girls’ under-17 doubles, holding back Dhessa Mae Arino and Aprille Diane Bibiano of Jaguar Badminton Academy, 21-11, 17-21, 21-16, for the top prize.

The lefty Caculitan and the power-hitting De Vera of Whackers BA-Li Ning appeared headed for an easy win after a trouble-free first set and a 17-11 lead in the second. But Bibiano and Arino, who came all the way from Cadiz, Negros Occidental, fought back, stringing up 10 straight points to reverse the tide.

Still wearing the uniforms they wore in winning the gold in the recent Palarong Pambansa, Bibiano and Arino even led in the decider, 12-11. But the long-time partnership of De Vera and Caculitan paid off as they launched a counterattack to prevail over the Jaguar pair.

Miguel Pangilinan downed Ron Jacob Galve, 21-17, 21-10, to top the boys’ singles under-11, while Jocelle Alvarez thumped Viana Meryl Antonio, 21-9, 21-14, to rule the girls’ division.

The day started with expected triumphs by national team members Paul Jefferson Vivas and Philip Jofer Escueta who defeated their respective rivals to forge a title showdown in the men’s singles.

Vivas recovered in time to repulse Ralph Ian Mendez, 21-15, 21-14, while Escueta demolished national youth team ace John Monterubio, 21-12, 21-10, in the other men’s Open semifinals.

Vivas, who booted out another PH team player Christopher Flores in the quarterfinals, 24-22, 21-19, allowed Mendez to creep back in both sets before unleashing his finishing kick.

Top PH player Malvinne Ann Venice Alcala bucked a swollen right knee to down Janelle Gloriane de Vera, 21-13, 21-17, and make the finals of the women’s Open. She will dispute the crown with Descka Calimlim, who beat Jennifer Cayetano, 21-6, 21-12.

Janelle Gloriane De Vera was also in bristling form, upending  Mary Ann Maranon, 21-14, 21-10, to barge into the finals of the girls’ 19-under class.

De Vera, a stalwart of Whackers Badminton Academy, next faces Escoses Training Camp’s Cassandra Grace Lim, who ousted Hannah Tudtud, 21-13. 21-19.