Magnaye, Delos Santos beat foes

PETER Magnaye and Ariel delos Santos had to slip past some tough opponents to get to the quarterfinals even as Ronel Estanislao bundled out fifth-seed Jaime Junio in the men’s Open singles of the MVP Sports Foundation-Bingo Bonanza Philippine Badminton Ranking System tournament in Davao yesterday.

The fourth-seeded Magnaye battled back from a set down to repulse veteran campaigner Alfredo Mailon Jr., 18-21, 21-13, 21-8, while joint No. 8 delos Santos scrambled past Jose Carlos Benipayo, 15-21, 21-19, 21-19, to stay in the hunt for the crown in the premier division of the third leg of the nationwide circuit featuring the country’s rising stars.

Estanislao, meanwhile, succeeded in toppling Junio, 21-14, 16-21, 21-18, to set up a quarterfinal clash with second-seed Paul Vivas, who also survived a big scare from Jobett Co, 23-21, 21-15, to underscore the level playing field in the tournament.

Top-seed Antonino Gadi, winner of the first two legs in Manila and Bacolod, breezed past joint No. 8 Carlos Cayanan, 21-3, 21-7, to arrange a Last 8 duel with Charlo Tengco, who stopped giant killer Rabie Oba-ob, 13-21, 21-14, 21-12.

Joint No. 6 Joper Escueta also advanced with a 21-13, 21-12 victory over Sonny Boy Montilla for a quarters showdown with Christopher Flores, who subdued Randolph Balatbat, 21-19, 16-21, 21-18.

In girls Under-19 division, back-to-back champion Bianca Carlos trampled Nina Zamora, 21-9, 21-7 to lead the quarterfinal cast that includes Clara Mae Tolosa, who swept Rozette Tabunan, 21-6, 21-16, and Margarita Villacorta, who scored a walkover win over Christa Cruz. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio