EMMANUEL Rodriguez of New Era U and Calvin Borgador trounced Ivan Basilio and Maverick Alcala, respectively, to arrange a semifinal showdown in the U-9 division in the PBA Ming Ramos Victor Youth Non-Ranking Championships at Jump Smash Badminton Court yesterday.
Rodriguez showed too much class in overpowering Basilio, fashioning out a 21-8, 21-10 victory, while Borgador held off Alcala, 21-17, 21-12, to stay in the title hunt in the tournament put up by the Philippine Badminton Association as part of its grassroots program.
Carlo Sanchez of Babolat Academy scored a walkover win over Dale Corpuz to set up a Final Four duel with Geero Peregrina of Bulacan, who subdued Herbert Peralta, 21-13, 21-10, in the singles event of the youngest category in the event held in honor of PBA honorary chair and former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos.
Meanwhile, PBA’s Bagong Bida Grassroots Program head Police Gen. Federico Laciste Jr. said that a series of regional grassroots tournaments will be conducted in different regions to enable players in the countryside to get a feel of tournament play.
In other results, Lorenzo Yason downed Fidel Manegdeg, 21-18, 21-12, to lead the quarterfinalists in the boys’ U-17. Others who advanced to the Last 8 were Joshua Antonio, Henry Peralta and Carl Clemente, while Jewel Albo got past Matthew Lao, 21-8, 21-7, to reach the quarters of the boys’ U-11 class.
Meghan Cruz toppled Lara Francisco, 21-13, 21-9, to tow Angelamae Morales, Virginia Lopez, Angelika Paz, Martha Undan, Camille Galve, Dane Pena and Joy de Guzman into the quarters of the girls U-13 in the event sanctioned by the PBA.