Smash Pilipinas standouts stamp class in National Open

Mariya Sevilla of PBA-Smash Pilipinas proved too strong for Klowie Garcia of FEU in an emphatic 21-11, 21-11 win Tuesday at the start of the P1.5-million Bingo Bonanza National Open badminton tournament at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.

Sevilla’s easy conquest in the open women’s singles put the national pool shuttler in a collision course with Maynilad’s Pauline Tan, the tournament’s top seed, for the right to gain a quarterfinal seat.

Charmaine Salvador, another PBA-Smash Pilipinas standout, also scored a rout as well as Jessica Muljati of Shamrock and Aldreen Mae Concepcion of Allied-NVBA in the meet sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association where ranking points are on offer.

All of them advancing to the round of 16, Salvador pummelled Mae Pomar, 21-7, 21-14, Concepcion crushed Lyceum’s Joy Tubongbanua, 21-6, 21-8, and Muljati posted a 21-6, 21-3 demolition of Irish Molina.

Defending champion Gelita Castillo drew a bye on opening day along with the second-ranked Sarah Joy Barredo and Tan in the week-long tourney supported by Gatorade, Glorietta, Smash Pilipinas and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

In the men’s open, Timothy Alvar walloped Arsen Alvarez from start to finish, 21-7, 21-16, to advance in the second round opposite Lyceum’s Adrian Ramos. Christian Sison joined Alvar in the next phase after hardly breaking a sweat with a walkover victory at the expense of Renz Lumaday.

The crowded field in mixed doubles came up with a thrilling contest after Carlos Cayanan and Alyssa Geverjuan of PBA-Smash turned back Meralco’s Sidney de Jesus and Fatima Cruz, 18-21, 21-10, 21-17, to move forward in the final 16.

Joper Escueta of PBA-Smash partnered with Indonesian Keshya Hanadia in a 21-11, 21-11 triumph over Vince Lagnada and Mae Pomar of FEU/Equiparco-BBC while the tandem of Ronel Estanislao (PBA-Smash) and Indonesia’s Marissa Vita got the better of JC Clarito and Almira Ramos of Yappies Badminton Group, 21-11, 21-11, to advance.

Over the next two days, action shifts at the Glorietta 5 Atrium while the semifinals and finals are scheduled at Glorietta in Makati City.

Escueta and Hanadia face Maynilad’s Paolo Dawal and Diosan Abangan in the succeeding round where defending champions Paul Vivas and Christine Inlayo are waiting for Mike Minuluan of National U and Minarti Timur of Indonesia, who progressed with a walkover win over Marie Lucas and Gines Alvar.

Christian Bernardo and Alvin Morada sealed a matchup with Minuluan and Alem Palmares in the last 16 of men’s doubles after pulling off a 21-18, 21-13 conquest of Edison Cupcupin and Heildenberg Dimarucot of Team Ai-Ai.