Lesser lights bundle out top shuttlers

MARIYA Sevilla of MSI Jr. Team and Dennis Magpantay of Escoses Training Center upset seeded rivals to lead the charge of the lesser lights in Under-19 play of the MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System’s Makati City leg which fired off yesterday at Powersmash.

Sevilla, who dominated Samantha Santos, 21-8, 21-11, in the first round, surprised No. 7 Angelica Muyrong, 21-14, 21-17, to advance against Joyce Macawile of Team SRBC.

Macawile repulsed Marin Tam, 21-6, 16-21, 22-20, then disposed of Denise Francisco, 21-7, 21-13.

Top seed defending champion Bianca Carlos of Golden Shuttle Foundation rolled past Paola Bernardo, 21-11, 21-13, to set up a duel with Mikaela Aquino, who trounced Ira Villanueva, 21-9, 21-9, while No. 2 Elisha Ongcuangco whipped Jelene Masongsong, 21-8, 21-13.

In men’s Open singles, five-leg champion Toby Gadi, also of GSF, had an opening-round bye before scoring a walkover win over Derek Bondoc.

Also advancing were No. 2 Paul Vivas, who beat Emmanuel Cabalfin, 21-10, 21-10; No. 3 Patrick Natividad, who ousted Patrique Magnaye, 21-18, 21-15; No. 4 Kevin Dalisay, who routed Vincent Tan, 21-7, 21-5; and No. 5 Carlo Tengco, who held off Lawrence Palomer, 21-18, 21-18.

Action shifts to Makati Coliseum today for the quarterfinals, semifinals and the finals, according to tournament director Nelson Asuncion.

Magpantay, meanwhile, rallied from a set down to bundle out fifth seed Lorenzo Yason, 16-21, 21-12, 25-23, to crash into the fourth round of the boys’ U-19.

Second seed Karl Foronda survived Jimbo Flores, 21-23, 21-11, 21-5, to join Magpantay and No. 1 Justin Natividad, who downed Jerickson Oba-ob, 21-10, 21-14; No. 7 Glenn Remo, No. 3 JC Clarito, No, 10, Joshua Monterubio and No. 4 Joshua Malelang.