PBA-Smash Pilipinas dominates Smart Open
Anton Cayanan and Joper Escueta pose with PBA team manager Atty. Jackie Cruz (left) and Gil Cortez (right) after winning the men’s doubles crown in the Smart National Open Badminton Tournament.
MANILA, Philippines - Members of the Philippine Badminton Association (PBA) Smash Pilipinas, led by Anton Cayanan and Joper Escueta, stamped their class in the doubles event of the Smart National Open Badminton Tournament 2016 at the Vista Mall in Taguig City recently.
Cayanan and Escueta, both national players under Indonesian coach Paulus Firman, held off Ronel Estanislao and Paul Vivas, 21-12, 24-22, to claim the men’s doubles Open crown while Alyssa Ysabel Leonardo and Thea Marie Pomar turned back Bianca Carlos and Chanelle Lunod, 21-17, 17-21, 21-16, to clinch the women’s title.
In the semis, Cayanan and Escueta routed National University’s Mike Minuluan and Alem Palmares, 21-15, 21-11, while Estanislao and Vivas thwarted national players Peter Magnaye and Alvin Morada, 25-23, 25-15, in the annual competition backed by Smart Telecommunication chairman Manny V. Pangilinan.
Leonardo and Pomar, also members of the national team, routed UP’s Gelita Castilo and Eleanor Inlayo, 21-12, 21-11, in the semis while Carlos and Lunod of Ateneo outlasted Joella De Vera and Aires Amor Montilla, 17-21, 23-21, 21-17.
In the men’s Open singles finals, Malaysian Shazwan Shahrul held off Rabie Oba-ob, 21-13, 21-19, to wrest the crown while Carlos rapped Mariya Sevilla, 21-15, 21-16, to claim the women’s Open singles diadem.
In the mixed doubles finals, John Pantig and Francesca Bermejo rallied past Carlo Remo and Chanelle Lunod, 17-21, 21-16, 21-14, to capture the crown in the event sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association, headed by president Jojo Binay and sec-gen Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez.
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