National team stalwarts Ros Leonard Pedrosa and Jewel Angelo Albo hurdled their respective opening round assignments with ease to kick off the men’s singles event of the 2023 Philippine Badminton Open Monday, Feb. 20, at the Dragonsmash Badminton Center in Makati City.
The 26-year-old Pedrosa made quick work of Lance Olavere, 21-3, 21-4, to protect his side of the draw in the tournament backed by Yamaha, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, MWell, Maynilad, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, and Meralco.
The win booked Pedrosa a second-round tussle with San Beda University’s Renniel Andrey Jusi – a 211-8, 21-8 winner over Leinard Sta. Ana.
The long-time Smash Pilipinas standout is joined by Mark Velasco and national youth upstart Jamal Pandi in his side of the draw after the two also advanced to the second round.
Velasco scored a come-from-behind 22-24, 21-9, 21-11 win over Ateneo captain Carlo Remo, while the 15-year-old Pandi beat John Ehriz Bon, 21-9, 21-15.
On the other side of the draw, the 19-year-old Albo bucked a slow start to bring down Christian Torteles, 21-14, 21-7.
The University of the Philippines student-athlete will go up against EJ Viloria for a place in the third round after the latter won 12-21, 21-12, 21-13, over Javier Sison of Mapua.
The women’s singles side took an interesting turn as UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year Anthea Gonzalez made a step toward arranging a possible showdown with national team mainstay Mikaela De Guzman.
The former national youth team member zoomed past University of Santo Tomas’ Samantha Chozas, 21-5, 21-3, to set up a round two battle with Nenia Santiago. De Guzman will take Alexis Repetillo in the said round. A win from both of them on Wednesday sees them into an early, interesting third-round showdown.
The tournament, which is also sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee, will kick off the men’s and women’s doubles events, while the third round of men’s singles rolls on Tuesday.
Catch  the games live on PBAD-Smash Pilipinas’ Facebook page (https://web.facebook.com/pbasmashpilipinaspage).
