Cebu Daily News / Sports

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/sports/view_article.php?article_id=213483

RP’s Bartolome makes round of 32 Cebu Daily News Posted date: July 02, 2009 With most Filipino shuttlers falling by the wayside, a few managed to stand tall and proud as the $120,000 Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Championships started yesterday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. One of those that carried the fight for the country was Rodel Bartolome, who showed that he is both effective in doubles and singles by upsetting fancied Raj Popat of Wales, 21-19, 21-11. Joining Bartolome in the round of 32 were compatriots Jaime Junio, Jose Martinez and Paul Co. Unlike Bartolome, Junio, Martinez and Co advanced via walkover wins over Zi Wong, Zong Ren Ng and YongZhao Chen of Singapore. Bartolome is expected to have his hands full with former junior world champion Chen Long of China, as his next opponent. Long, seeded No. 7 in the tournament, has momentum on his side as he boasts of recent wins over current world no. 1 Lee Chong Wei, and former top players Lin Dan and Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia. Still, the Filipino contingent was greatly reduced with the foreigners asserting their dominance in almost every match in the graded four-star event. Raymond Padilla was the first to bow out with a 7-21, 18-21 loss to Hong Kong’s Chan Yun Lang, then Melvin Llanes took a 10-21, 9-21 beating from China’s Lu Qicheng, Peter Magnaye followed suit with a 17-21, 15-21 loss to Singapore’s Febriyan Irvannaldy then Benjamin Gadi fell to Zhou Wenlong, also of China, 8-21, 12-21. Patrick Magnaye offered a sliver of hope in his match against Slovenia’s Iztok Utrosa, as he won the first set but fell in the next two, 16-21, 21-11, 21-11. In other results, Joper Escueta lost to Malaysia’s Kay Bin Yeoh, 21-23, 14-21; Jobett Co bowed to Singapore’s Huang Chao, 19-21, 17-21; Gabriel Villanueva fell to Indonesian Adnan Fauzi, 17-21, 10-21; Kelvin Dalisay succumbed to Malaysian Beryno Wong, 10-21, 14-21; Aries Delos Santos lost to Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki, 8-21, 12-21, Gregg Paz stumbled against Malaysia’s Pei Wee Chung, 7-21, 17-21 while Sonny Boy Montilla was outclassed by China’s Du Pengyu, 6-21, 5-21. Ramon Dalo Jr. bowed to Indonesia’s Nugroho Saputro, 11-21, 10-21; Ralph Mendez was booted out by Malaysia’s Sairul Ayob, 10-21, 3-21; Wilmer Frias lost to Singapore’s Robin Gonanza, 15-21, 13-21; Ian Bautista was crushed by China’s Gao Huan, 3-21, 6-21; Lloyd Escoses fell to Indonesia’s Aditya Arifin, 10-21, 14-21; Kelvin Ang was scuttled by Indonesian Yoga Pratama, 9-21. 9-21; and Kelvin Panganiban bowed to Indon Farhad, 14-21, 18-21. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio