Mika de Guzman and Jelo Albo scored contrasting victories to move a step closer to defending their respective titles in the quarterfinals of the Philippine National Badminton Open 2026 on Friday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

The Ateneo de Manila University product and Smash Pilipinas standout needed just 22 minutes to dispatch Hailene Reese Diaz, 21–5, 21–8, and advance to within two wins of a fourth consecutive women’s singles crown.

The 2025 MAXX North Harbour International runner-up will next face national junior team standout Eve Bejasa, who rallied past University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 Rookie of the Year and last year’s bronze medalist Patricia de Leon, 19–21, 21–15, 21–19.

Fresh from helping the Philippine junior team secure a historic top-10 finish at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships, Bejasa raced to an early lead in the opening game but surrendered the key points to fall behind.

The 17-year-old Cebuana responded by taking the second set before erasing a 17–19 deficit in the decider to arrange a semifinal showdown with De Guzman.

“I didn’t really want to put pressure on myself. I just want to give my 100 percent best in each game that I play,” De Guzman said of her mindset heading into Saturday’s semifinal against her junior national teammate.

On the men’s side, Albo needed three sets to repulse Robby Ramos, 21–12, 17–21, 21–8, and continue his bid for a third straight national men’s singles title.