Lady shuttlers assured of medal

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The Philippine women's national badminton team 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, late 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 SEA Games in the men's doubles in Singapore.

The team will take on the winner of the clash between Indonesia and Cambodia on Wednesday for a place in the final.

Returning national team shuttler Bianca Carlos sent the Philippines to the last four with a huge 21-16, 21-18 win over 18-year-old Siri Nurshuhaini of Malaysia in the second singles match.

Mika De Guzman earlier pulled off a close 24-22, 21-18 decision over Tan Zhing Yi to put the Filipinas on the board first before the duo of Thea Pomar and Alyssa Leonardo outlasted Low Yeen Yuan and Valeree Siow 22-20, 19-21, 24-22 for a huge 2-0 lead.

But the men's team of Solomon Padiz Jr. and Julius Villabrille failed to contain the fightback 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.

Loh Kean Yew, the 2021 men's singles world champion, opened the day with a dominant win for Singapore, scoring a 21-14, 21-13 victory over the Philippines' Jewel Angelo Albo.

The Filipinos equalized as 31st Iran Fajr International Challenge champions Alvin Morada and Christian Bernardo beating Jun Liang Andy Kwek and Loh Kean Hean, 21-14, 21-15.

Jia Heng Jason The reclaimed the lead for Singapore with a solid 21-11, 21-11 victory over Lance Vargas in the second singles match.