Anthea Gonzalez and Brys Fuggan opened their respective bids for the Women’s Singles Open title with dominant wins on the second day of the 2026 MIA Badminton Challenge Cup on Tuesday at the MIA Sports Center in Pasay City.
Gonzalez — playing her fifth and final year with the University of the Philippines in this upcoming UAAP season — needed just 14 minutes to dispatch Lorraine Araneta of the Cardinal Shuttlers, 15–5, 15–1, to move into the Round of 16.
”So far, ok naman po siya at first game ko pa lang naman po. Naibigay ko naman po yung best ko and lumabas naman lahat ng pinag-trainingan namin,” says Gonzalez, the UAAP Season 87 MVP.
On the other hand, Fuggan, last year’s UAAP Rookie of the Year and the tournament’s second seed, made it an even swifter 12-minute clinic over Alexandra Gozon, 15–3, 15–1, to advance in the next round of this tournament backed by Rally Sports, JPA Sports, Wilkins Pure, Minute Maid, and Playa de Nubla Private Resort.
”Ginagamit ko lang po yung experiences ko last year, especially yung mga opportunities ko sa international. Laging ang goal ko is makapag-uwi ng bagong knowledge, bagong play. And yun rin nakatulong sa kin nung [Philippine National Badminton Open] quarterfinals against (Althea) Ocampo,” said Fuggan, that tournament’s eventual semifinalist and podium-finisher.
Gonzalez will face Thi Thanh Nhi Huynh, a 15–9, 15–13 winner over Chutunit Duremdes, for a place in the quarterfinals.
On the other hand, Fuggan drew De La Salle College of Saint Benilde’s Frente Go, a walkover winner against Kaitlin Panganiban, in the next round of this Philippine National Ranking System Super 500 tournament.
The two paced the other Fighting Maroons who made the next round, with incoming captain Sushmita Ramos and Karen Zapanta joining them.
Ramos, a former member of Smash Pilipinas national team, nipped Emilio Aguinaldo College’s Habebe Berganio, 15–4, 15–3, while Zapanta claimed the walkover victory against Samantha Ng.
On the men’s side, UP’s Josh Dupet and AYO Badminton Academy’s Mel David De Vera fought it out against their respective foes to reach the Round of 16.
Dupet took 44 minutes to complete the comeback over University of Santo Tomas’ Clark Brillantes, 8–15, 17–15, 15–10, while De Vera endured a 54-minute battle before escaping Adamson University’s Rainier Ondol, 13–15, 18–16, 15–10.
The doubles play also concluded with the Round of 32 later in the day, headlined by the victory of the Men’s Doubles Open top seeds Ron Galve and John Vincent Espinoza.
The two products of the UST program denied UP’s Shan Clar and Ryan Mendoza, 15–12, 16–14, in 31 minutes.
In women’s doubles, Adamson’s Abbygail Barcelon and Camille Buagas booked their place in the next round with a 15–8, 15–7 finish over Araneta and Tequila Llorera.
