NATIONAL team standouts Jelo Albo and Mika De Guzman completed their undefeated run in the men’s and women’s singles of the 2024 Philippine Badminton Open at the Gameville Ball Park yesterday.

Albo made quick work of Jaguar Badminton Academy’s Clarence Villaflor, 21-13, 21-9, for a perfect 8-0 record in the tournament.

“Yung game plan ko lang na tulad kahapon na huwag patagalin yung laro. Gumising ako kaagad dito kanina na excited maglaro at para kunin iyong championship na ito,” Albo said.

De Guzman went unscathed in five matches capped by a 21-11, 16-21, 21-8 conquest of National University’s Ysabel Amora in the final.

“Nagpapasalamat lang rin ako sa coaches ko, sila coach Joper (Escueta), coach Kenneth (Monterubio), coach Ariel (Magnaye), at coach Kennie (Asuncion-Robles), kasi they helped me a lot at malaking factor nila na mapalakas ‘yung mental at physical preparation ko in this tournament,” De Guzman said.

In the men’s doubles final, Christian Bernardo and Peter Magnaye won via forfeit over Julius Villabrile and Solomon Padiz Jr., 22-20, 15-21, 20-17, to cap a 6-0 campaign.

Nicole Albo and Lea Inlayo triumphed in the women’s doubles final at the expense of Kimberly Lao and Patricia de Dios, 21-12, 21-7, as the top-seeded pair went unbeaten in five matches.

Bernardo and Alyssa Leonardo rebounded from a second set loss to beat Villabrille and Albo in the mixed doubles final, 21-19, 19-21, 21-14.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Theodore P. Jurado