Vita completes ‘golden double’ in Bingo Bonanza tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Indonesians Marissa Vita and Keshya Hanadia held off the late-charging Alyssa Leonardo and Thea Pomar and hacked out a 21-11, 23-21 victory to snare the Open women’s doubles crown in the Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at Glorietta 5 Atrium in Makati City late Sunday.

Vita and Hanadia, who booted out top seed Jessie Francisco and Eleanor Inlayo in the quarters, seized control early with their grit and style, scoring on long rallies while pouncing on their PBA-Smash Pilipinas rivals’ miscues at endgame to fashion out the 30-minute victory.

The duo took the top P120,000 purse with Vita completing a “double” by also teaming up with local ace Ronel Estanislao to win the Open mixed doubles plum with a 21-17, 21-15 romp over second seed Alvin Morada and Alyssa Leonardo.

Peter Magnaye and Paul Vivas, the former Swiss Juniors champions, also flashed solid teamwork and used their power game to dominate top seed Joper Escueta and Ronel Estanislao, 21-16, 21-18, and seize the Open men’s doubles diadem in the week-long top ranking event backed by official equipment Victor PCOME and official sports drink Gatorade.

Sarah Joy Barredo and Mark Alcala took the singles titles with the former besting Airah Albo, 15-21, 21-16, 21-6, and the latter retaining the crown by upending top seed Kevin Cudiamat, 21-14, 21-17, in the event sponsored by Bingo Bonanza and sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez.

All the doubles winners received P120,000 purse with the runners-up settling for P72,000 while the singles champions took P100,000 each with the runners-up receiving P60,000 each.