The Philippine women’s national badminton team has assured the country of at least a bronze medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games after advancing to the semifinals at the expense of regional powerhouse Malaysia, 3-0, on Monday at the Morodok Techo Badminton Hall.
This will be the country’s first medal since Ronel Estanislao and Joper Escueta bagged the bronze in the 28th Games in Singapore in men’s doubles.
The PH team will take on the winner of the clash between Indonesia and Cambodia on Wednesday for a place in the final.
Quite fittingly, it was returning Bianca Carlos who sent the Philippines to the last four with a huge 21-16, 21-18 win over 18-year-old Siri Nurshuhaini in the second singles match after a -minute battle.
Mika De Guzman earlier pulled off a close 24-22, 21-18 decision over Tan Zhing Yi to put the country on the board first before the duo of Thea Pomar and Alyssa Leonardo put up the huge 2-0 advantage as they outlasted Low Yeen Yuan and Valeree Siow, 22-20, 19-21, 24-22 in the lone doubles rubber played.
On the men’s side, Solomon Padiz Jr. and Julius Villabrille could not contain the comeback from Singapore’s Hee Yong Kai Terry and Nge Joo Jie and absorbed a 21-13, 19-21, 18-21 defeat in the second doubles match.
The loss saw the men’s squad exit the Games in the team event.
