Tapales-Geverjuan bundles out No. 2

MANILA, Philippines – PBA Smash Pilipinas’ Nestor Tapales and Alyssa Geverjuan wrested control early then held off second seed Mike Minuluan and Aires Montilla’s fightback, 21-18, 21-19, to barge into the quarterfinal round of the Open mixed doubles in the P1.5 million Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at the CW Home Depot Ortigas in Pasig yesterday.

Tapales and Geverjuan put on a superb all-around game to send the National U-Team Prima/DLSU pair on the defensive then came through with clutch shots to finish off their rivals in 28 minutes and arrange a Last 8 duel with Melvin Llanes and Eleanor Inlayo.

The UP tandem also pulled off a surprise 19-21, 22-20, 21-14 decision over Kevin Cudiamat and Mariya Sevilla to stay in the hunt for the top P120,000 purse in the top-ranking event sponsored by the country’s premier gaming and amusement center Bingo Bonanza.

Top seed Alvin Morada and Alyssa Leonardo of PBA Smash rolled past Marco Santiaguel and Alysa Desacola, 21-12, 21-6, to seal a quarters clash with Hanz Bernardo and Channel Lunod, who turned back JC Clarito and Christine Garin, 17-21, 21-15, 21-16.

Also advancing were Ronel Estanislao and Indonesian Keshya Hanadia, Paul Vivas and Thea Pomar, Peter Magnaye and Devi Permatasari, also of Indonesia, and Ros Pedrosa and Sarah Barredo.