MIKA De Guzman completed an undefeated run to defend her women’s singles title in the 2024 Philippine Badminton Open after overcoming the challenge of Ysabel Amora, 21-11, 14-21, 21-8, on Tuesday at the Gameville Ball Park in Mandaluyong City.
The 2023 APACS Kazakhstan International Series champion needed to regroup after losing the first game in the second set to secure her second consecutive championship in this Philippine Super 500 tournament sponsored by Smart, Mizuno, the Philippine Sports Commission, and the MVP Sports Foundation.
“Nagpapasalamat lang rin ako sa coaches ko, sila coach Joper (Escueta), coach Kenneth (Monterubio), coach Ariel (Magnaye), at coach Kennie (Asuncion-Robles), kasi they helped me a lot at malaking factor nila na mapalakas ‘yung mental at physical preparation ko in this tournament,” said the incoming fourth-year student-athlete at the Ateneo De Manila University.
De Guzman expressed pride in the outcome of her hard work, saying, “I’m really happy that I really won again in this PBO. I would like to thank sir MVP for supporting the national team and to our coaches who helped us get the wins.”
Meanwhile, Jelo Albo, also from PBad Smash Pilipinas, defeated the tournament’s surprise contender, Clarence Villaflor of Cadiz-JBA/Apacs, in the men’s singles final, 21-13, 21-9, in this competition sponsored by Jollibee, Chowking, and the First Pacific Leadership Academy.
After defending his hometown in the previous six days in FLPA in Antipolo, Albo started strong to fend off Villaflor’s upset attempt in 47 minutes, despite the scoreline.
“Tuwang-tuwa ako sa performance ko kasi kagabi pa lang minindset ko kung ano ‘yung mga dapat kong gawin ngayong araw na to. ‘Yung game plan ko lang na tulad kahapon na huwag patagalin ‘yung laro. Gumising ako kaagad dito kanina na excited maglaro at para kunin ‘yong championship na ‘to,” said the 20-year-old incoming third-year at University of the Philippines.
This week-long tournament, sponsored by Maynilad, MWell, and Cignal, also witnessed Lea Inlayo and Nicole Albo defending their women’s doubles title, defeating UP’s Kimberly Lao and Patricia De Dios, 21-12, 21-7, in the day’s curtain-raiser.
In the men’s doubles category, Ariel Magnaye and Christian Bernardo clinched the title after a bizarre turn of events in the third game when reigning champions Solomon Padiz Jr. and Julius Villabrille decided to retire following a disputed line shot call.
Magnaye, the concurrent head coach of the national side, and one-half of the 2023 Iran Fajr International Series champions, Bernardo, claimed victory with a score of 22-20, 15-21, 20-17, after an intense battle.