ANTIPOLO CITY – Lyrden Laborte hurdled two matches in a day and advanced to the next round in both the men’s singles and men’s doubles events of the Philippine Badminton Open 2024 on Thursday at the First Pacific Leadership Academy (FPLA) here.
Laborte, a UAAP Season 86 co-MVP, defeated JVMBC’s John Vincent Macabenta, 21-3, 21-2, in just 21 minutes of play.
He then partnered with fellow Ateneo upstart Charles Bagasbas to secure a 21-11, 21-9 win over Kryzler Villanueva and Zachary Chua of the Bianca Carlos Badminton Academy in the Round of 128 of the men’s doubles event in this Philippine Super 500 tournament supported by Smart, Mizuno, the Philippine Sports Commission, and the MVP Sports Foundation.
Laborte’s day is far from over as the Cebu City native is scheduled to face JC Clarito in the Round of 64 in singles play later in the day in this competition sponsored by Jollibee, Chowking, and the FPLA.
Fellow UAAP standout and incoming third-year student-athlete Kervin Llanes followed a similar trajectory, winning both of his assignments of the day.
Llanes, a two-time Philippine Intercollegiate champion from the University of the Philippines, began the day with a victory in the Round of 128 of the doubles event with former San Sebastian College-Recolletos standout Rey Angelo Pedron, defeating Jowe Fabunan and Victor Lloren of DGS Apacs Bulacan 21-5, 21-10.
In singles play of this meet presented by Maynilad, MWell, and Cignal, the 19-year-old product of St. Roberts International Academy emerged victorious over Kyles Corcuera, 21-12, 21-14.
Fiery Laborte dispatches Macabenta in 21 minutes in PH Badminton Open
