Christel Fuentespina of the Philippines in action in the Philippine Junior International Series, August 6, 2026 at the Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City. Handout/PBAD
MANILA -- Christel Fuentespina overcame a setback in the second set to turn back Chinese Taipei's Tsai Ning Tu and advance to the quarterfinals of the girls' under-19 singles in the inaugural Philippine Junior International Series.
The 17-year-old Fuentespina claimed a 21-10, 17-21, 21-10 in 44 minutes on Thursday at the Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City to claim her place in the last eight.
"Masaya po sa feeling kasi mismong sa Philippines po siya ginanap, at nagka-chance po ako na makapag-quarterfinals at maipakita po 'yung galing ng Filipino player," Fuentespina said.
Fuentespina will next face top-seeded Indian Naishaa Kaur Bhatoye, who defeated Ma. Nicole Notorio, 21-14, 21-14, for a place in the semifinals.
Joining her in the quarterfinals is fellow national junior team member Eve Bejasa, who defeated Canada's Althia Bedi, 21-16, 21-18.
The victory served as a strong response for the young Cebuana after she and Roaquine Ramos were eliminated from the mixed under-19 doubles earlier in the day, falling to Malaysians Yusuf M. Iqbal and Hwee Ling Leong, 10-21, 17-21.
"Actually, nung mixed po, nasayangan po kami since late po 'yung adjustment namin do’n. Pagkatalo po, nag-try po ako na mag-meditate po muna to try to focus on my next match po. Ayon po, nagawa ko naman po," Bejasa said.
She will next face the winner between Thailand's Chanya Saritdichainanta and Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen.
In mixed under-19 doubles, Ralph Niño Dalojo and Enya Almazan also advanced to the quarterfinals after sweeping fellow Filipinos Prince Lloren and Jaci Canete, 21-8, 21-10, in an all-Filipino second-round encounter. They will next take on Iqbal and Leong for a spot in the semifinals.
The Philippines also enjoyed success in the under-15 doubles events, with Khalil Arimao and Jan Lemar Salomon advancing to the boys' quarterfinals, while Seanna Reign Berce and Psalm Tablante reached the girls' last eight.
Arimao and Salomon pulled off an impressive 21-11, 21-10 upset over Malaysia's Jian Yuean Loo and Jian Hau Ng. Berce and Tablante, meanwhile, defeated Maldives' Ahmed Mahloof Laiba and India's Kyra Raina, 23-21, 21-16.