JOPER Escueta kicked off his bid for a double in the MVP Sports Foundation-Bingo Bonanza Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) tournament in style after scoring a pair of impressive wins yesterday at the Pohang Badminton Courts in Bacolod City.
Escueta, seeking a second straight championship in the Under-19 category, toppled UP-Diliman’s Gio Fajardo, 21-7, 21-1, to lead the charge of the fancied bets in the weeklong tournament which is the second leg of the four-stage nationwide circuit.
Earlier, Escueta, one of the national team members who saw action in last week’s Sudirman Cup, trounced Allied-Victor’s Joshua Monterubio, 21-9, 21-11, in the Open division won by fellow Phl team mainstay Antonino Gadi in the circuit’s inaugurals last March.
Markie Alcala, the U-15 singles champion, turned back Golden Shuttle Foundation’s Miguel Ramos, 21-11, 21-15 in the tougher U-19 class of the P1 million event, a project of Vice President Jejomar Binay, Rep. Albee Benitez and businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan.
Other winners in the U-19 men’s singles were Paul Malata of Iloilo Valiant Badminton Club, Clarence Filart of GSF, Miguel Leonardo of JLTC/Flypower, Kevin Cudiamat of Philippine Team/Victor, Paolo Infante of WWGBA, Christian Sison of Whackers, Gerard Sibayan of Philippine Team/Victor, Josh Escubio of IVBC, Robert Aloyan of Jaguar Badminton Academy, JC Clarito and Jose Martinez of La Salle, Julius Sta. Ana of Bulacan State U and Joshua Monterubio of Allied/Victory. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio