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.