Jochelle Alvarez and Clarence Villaflor moved one win away from breakthrough singles titles after securing their spots in the women’s and men’s singles finals of the Philippine National Badminton Open 2026 on Saturday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

Alvarez, the Season 86 University Athletic Association of the Philippines co-Most Valuable Player, outlasted University of the Philippines incoming sophomore and reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year Brys Ellewis Fuggan, 21-17, 17-21, 21-10, to reach the singles final of the national tournament for the first time.

The incoming Ateneo de Manila University senior came out strong in the opening game before Fuggan responded in the second to even the match.

Alvarez, however, returned to the form that helped her win the opener, dominating the deciding game to clinch a breakthrough finals berth in the tournament presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, Cignal, Yonex, Sunrise, Maynilad and MWell.

In the men’s division, Villaflor advanced to his third consecutive Philippine National Badminton Open final after defeating longtime national team stalwart Ros Pedrosa, 21-15, 22-20, in a gripping 47-minute semifinal.

Fresh off securing qualification for the BWF World Championships, Villaflor controlled the opening game before weathering Pedrosa’s late charge in the second.

Despite the veteran repeatedly trimming the deficit, Villaflor held on to complete the straight-games victory and earn another shot at the national crown.

Standing in the way of Alvarez and Villaflor are defending champions Mika de Guzman and Jelo Albo, both seeking to extend their dominance in the tournament.

De Guzman, chasing a record fourth straight women’s singles title, displayed her composure and experience in dispatching juniors national team standout Eve Bejasa, 21-10, 21-17, in just 35 minutes.

Albo, meanwhile, stayed on course for a third consecutive men’s singles championship after bouncing back from a first-game loss to defeat fellow Smash Pilipinas standout JR Pandi, 16-21, 21-11, 21-9, in a match that lasted more than an hour.