Antipolo City’s national badminton player Lea Inlayo advanced to the Semifinals in two events of the 2023 Philippine Badminton Open held February 25, Friday at the Dragonsmash Badminton Center in Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City.

Inlayo, who teamed up with Airah Mae Nicole Albo trounced Althea Hernandez and Tia Bualat, 21-6, 21-12 in the Semifinals of Women’s Doubles. She later teamed up with Solomon Padiz Jr. to advance to the Semifinals of Mixed Doubles.

They were handled by Coach Joper Escueta.

The tournament was shut down for three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2019 edition of the tournament was held at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex and served as the test event for the 30th Southeast Asian Games

The tournament is part of the Philippine national team’s (Smash Pilipinas) build-up to the 32nd SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and will likewise serve as basis for the official ranking of national badminton players.

 “The Philippine Badminton Open is a milestone for us because this will be the start of our national ranking system for our players. This is where we can help develop and hone the skills of our players. This is also through this tournament that we can support our national team players, especially as they prepare for the SEA Games and other international tournaments,” said tournament project director and Cagayan de Oro City District 1 councilor Imee Moreno.

Five events will be played in the Super 500 tournament — men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.

There is a total of ₱1,000,000 pot with ₱70,000 going to the winners of the singles events. ₱150,000 will go to the champions of the doubles events.