ORLAN Ticala and Solomon Padiz Jr. overcame two determined rivals to arrange a quarterfinal duel in the Open men’s singles while Alem Palmares sustained his romp in Day Four of the Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at the CW Home Depot Ortigas in Pasig yesterday.
But while the sixth ranked Padiz of PBA Smash Pilipinas imposed his will in the decider and carved out a 21-17, 16-21, 21-11 victory over wild card entry Christian Cuyno, the No. 4 Ticala of Team Prima walked the tightrope before subduing Ateneo’s Carlo Remo, 17-21, 21-15, 23-21.
That makes their face-off for one of the semis berths worth watching when action in the top-ranking event sponsored by Bingo Bonanza shifts to SM Megamall tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday (finals).
Top seed Kevin Cudiamat heads the Final 8 cast with a 21-13, 21-17 romp over Cris Sanchez with the top PBA Smash Pilipinas bet taking on Ateneo’s Clarence Filart, who dominated Edwin Dodds, 21-12, 21-10, in the week-long event backed by official equipment Victor PCOME and SM Megamall, Smash Pilipinas and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
Top seed defending champion Sarah Joy Barredo likewise primed up for the tough grind as she disposed of Anne Macabenta, 21-8, 21-4, to lead the quarterfinalists in the Open women’s singles of the country’s premier badminton championship sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by president Jejomar Binay and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez.
Meanwhile, Palmares scored a follow-up to his shock 21-12, 15-21, 21-16 reversal of No. 8 Wilson Lopez in the second round with a 23-21, 21-14 triumph over Fides Bagasbas. But the National U ace will have to double up his effort when he clashes with third seed Ros Pedrosa for a spot in the semis at 10 a.m. (today).
In other matches, Cudiamat takes on Filart at 12:20 p.m., Ticala clashes with Padiz and Ormilla collides with Gabuelo both at 1:20 p.m. Also on tap are the matches in the Open mixed doubles and men’s and women’s doubles and women’s singles.
Pedrosa, another PBA Smash mainstay, held off Lanz Zafra, 22-20, 21-18, to stay in the hunt, along with No. 5 R-Jay Ormilla of Team Prima, who routed wild card Benny Divinagracia, 21-10, 21-8; and second seed Frell Gabuelo, also of PBA Smash, who trounced Jerome Pechera, 21-9, 21-7.