Shuttlers Aquino, Rosal gain semis

MIKAELA Aquino and Heidi Rosal squeezed out a pair of three-set victories to barge into the semifinal round of the girls’ Under-17 class while Beatrice Felizardo and Monica Rivera dominated their rivals to set up the other Final 4 duel in the PBA Ming Ramos Victor Youth Non-Ranking Championships at Jump Smash Badminton Court in San Francisco Del Monte, Quezon City, over the weekend.

Aquino, a DARE 4:13 Badminton Academy mainstay, battled back from a set down to frustrate Raelyn Almendras of Allied-Victor Team, 18-21, 21-10, 21-6, to seal a showdown with Babolat Academy’s Rosal, who upended Janelle Andres of Lining, 22-20, 13-21, 22-20.

Felizardo, also of Lining Academy, tripped Ira Villanueva of Allied-Victor, 21-16-21-9, to gain the semifinals against teammate Rivera, who saw off Team Prima’s Anne Chen, 21-7, 21-8, in the event staged in honor of Philippine Badminton Association honorary chair and former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos.