Carlos pulls off twin kill in PBaRS tournament

MANILA, Philippines - Ma. Bianca Ysabel Carlos turned in a superb all around game to clip Gelita Castilo, 21-17, 21-14, and capture the Open ladies singles crown in the MVP Sports Foundation-Bingo Bonanza first Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) tournament at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig yesterday.

Hours later, the Golden Shuttle Foundation bet toppled Nikki Therese Servando of Victor-PCOME, 21-14, 21-11, in the Under-19 girls’ singles finals to complete a golden double in the inaugural P1 million badminton ranking tournament and emerge the top.

Carlos outfoxed Castilo, a Li-Ning/PNP bet, in a tough first set duel, scoring on smashes and drop shots, then re-asserted her might in the second frame to complete the straight-set triumph in 27 minutes worth P70,000. 

It was an impressive title campaign by Carlos in the Open class as she never dropped a set in her quest for the championship, scoring a walkover win over Janelle De Vera in the round of 32. She toppled Joyce Po, 21-12, 21-12, in the Last 16 then disposed of Alizandra Candelaria, 21-11, 21-10, in the quarters, before subduing Danica Bolos, 21-14, 21-15, in the semis Saturday.

In the U-19 category, Carlos lost a set to Danica San Ignacio but still pulled off a 21-16, 15-21, 21-10 victory then trounced Servando for the crown worth another P20,000.

National team mainstay Joper Escueta, meanwhile, made up for his failed bid in the Open class as he romped away with the Under-19 boys’ singles title with a 21-12, 21-18 victory over Wilbert Natividad of GSF. He won P20,000.

Joella De Vera of Whackers BA overcame a first-set setback with a pair of convincing victories in the next two to carve a 19-21, 21-15, 21-9 win over Ysabel Leonardo of JLTC to bag the U-15 girls’ singles diadem worth P10,000.

In the Open mixed doubles, Peter Magnaye and Saro Fullante of the Phl team/Allied-Victor bested Marco Bermejo and Cheska Bermejo, 21-13, 21-12, to cop the title in the inaugural P1 million ranking tournament sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation-Goal Pilipinas!, Bingo Bonanza Corp. and Victor-PCOME.

sThey took home P70,000.

Other winners in the eight-day tournament, backed by by PLDT-Smart Foundation, Victor PCOME Industrial Sales, Gatorade and Powersmash with The Philippine STAR, TV5, Badminton Extreme Philippines Magazine, Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT and 103.5 WOW! as media partners, were Kevin Cudiamat and Janelle De Vera; and Anton Vargas and Marina Caculitan.

The Cudiamat-De Vera pair toppled the John Santos-Pauline Escobar tandem, 21-12, 21-12, to pocket the U-19 mixed doubles crown worth P20,000, while Vargas and Caculitan outplayed Raphael Deato and Christine Inlayo, 21-7, 21-18, to capture the U-15 mixed doubles diadem and the top P10,000 purse.

Meanwhile, the circuit will resume on May 29-June 4 with the staging of the second leg in Bacolod while Davao will host the third stage on July 31-Aug. 6 for players in the provinces to get the chance to play in top-level competitions. The circuit, designed to raise the Filipinos’ level of play and come up with a truly national ranking system, will culminate in the VP Grand Prix Badminton Open Championships on Oct. 22-29 in Manila.