ANTIPOLO CITY – National team standouts Jelo Albo and Mika De Guzman took a step closer to their respective bids for the men’s and women’s singles titles at the 2024 Philippine Badminton Open by scoring impressive semifinal wins on Monday, June 10, at the First Pacific Leadership Academy here.
Albo, the 20-year-old hometown bet, fended off the challenge of top seed and Philippine Air Force’s RJ Oba-ob in 39 minutes of intense action, 21-12, 21-10, to move into the final of the men’s singles in this Philippine Super 500 tournament, supported by Smart, Mizuno, the Philippine Sports Commission, and the MVP Sports Foundation.
Albo, who lives just a few kilometers from the venue, knew of the capabilities of Oba-ob, a former national team member, and knew he had to take his opportunity to score when first presented the chance.
Albo will shoot for the throne against the tournament’s biggest surprise so far, Clarence Villaflor of Cadiz-JBA/Apacs, who downed Ateneo’s Arthur Salvado Jr., 21-13, 21-16, in the other semifinal clash.
De Guzman, on her part, continued her impressive run toward defending her title in women’s singles in this competition sponsored by Jollibee, Chowking, and the FPLA, with a 21-10, 21-13 decision over National University’s Karylle Rio.
Despite the scoreline, the 2023 APACS Kazakhstan International Series champion praised her fellow UAAP standout Rio’s game, saying: “She did great po. I know she is one of the top players at NU, and at the same time, I’m also happy with my performance. Knowing na top players sila ng top schools, kailangan ko pong ilabas ‘yung 100 percent best ko.”
With another Lady Bulldog, Ysabel Amora, who won 21-15, 21-12 against Anielka Maeve Paz, standing in her way to the championship, De Guzman knew what she should do on Tuesday.
In the doubles play of this tournament, also backed by Maynilad, MWell, and Cignal, Smash Pilipinas standouts Julius Villabrille and Nicole Albo kept their double title-retention bid in effect after both survived the challenges presented to them in the three semifinal matches they conquered.
Villabrille, who will be in his third year with NU, teamed up with his 2023 APACS Kazakhstan Future Series title partner, Solomon Padiz Jr., in a 24-22, 21-11 victory over fellow Bulldogs Lanz Zafra and Nestojan Tapales.
Albo and Inlayo, on the other hand, will face UP Fighting Maroons Patricia de Dios and Kimberly Lao, 21-18, 21-13 winners over the University of Santo Tomas’ Jennifer Saladaga and Rhafi Santos.
The reigning mixed doubles champions, Villabrille and Albo, likewise took care of John Gregg Paz and Marilou Dacillo, 21-11, 21-13, and will face Bernardo and Alyssa Leonardo, who battled through a 21-18, 17-21, 21-18 marathon past Padiz and Inlayo, for the title.
The tournament concludes on Tuesday, with the championship matches starting at 10 a.m. at the Gameville Ball Park in Mandaluyong City, with 1 million pesos in total pot money for the five events.
