Jelo Albo in the 2024 Philippine Badminton Open. Handout/PBAD

MANILA -- National team standouts Jelo Albo and Mika De Guzman moved closer to the men's and women's singles titles, respectively, at the 2024 Philippine Badminton Open.

This, after they won their semifinal matches on Monday at the First Pacific Leadership Academy in Antipolo City.

Albo, the 20-year-old hometown bet, fended off the challenge of top seed RJ Oba-ob of the Philippine Air Force in 39 minutes of intense rallies, 21-12, 21-10, to move into the final of the men's singles in this Philippine Super 500 tournament.

"Totally, wala naman po talaga akong sinet na goal sa sarili ko. Siguro, sa lahat naman, ang goal nila is mag-champion. Pero para sa 'kin lang is mapakita ko 'yung best ko at mag-perform ng maayos," said the UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year from University of the Philippines.

Albo will compete for the title against the tournament's biggest surprise so far, Clarence Villaflor of Cadiz-JBA/Apacs, who dominated Ateneo de Manila University's Arthur Salvado Jr., 21-13, 21-16, in the other semifinal clash.

READ: Oba-ob stages dramatic comeback to reach semis

De Guzman, on her part, continued her impressive run towards defending her title in the women's singles in this competition. She secured a 21-10, 21-13 victory over National University's Karylle Rio in just half an hour.

Despite the scoreline, the 2023 APACS Kazakhstan International Series champion praised her fellow UAAP standout Rio's game, saying, "She did great po. I know she is one of the top players at NU, and at the same time, I'm also happy with my performance. Knowing na top players sila ng top schools, kailangan ko pong ilabas 'yung 100 percent best ko."

With another Lady Bulldog, Ysabel Amora, who won 21-15, 21-12 against Anielka Maeve Paz, standing in her way to the championship, De Guzman knew what she needed to do on Tuesday.

"Ibubuhos ko na po lahat kasi ito na 'yung final game eh. So, kung ano pa po 'yung natitira sa sarili ko, ibibigay ko na po talaga lahat-lahat," said the three-time UAAP champion from Ateneo de Manila University.Mika de Guzman in the 2024 Philippine Badminton Open. Handout/PBAD

READ: Mika De Guzman cruises to opening win in badminton tilt

In the doubles play of this tournament, Smash Pilipinas standouts Julius Villabrille and Nicole Albo kept their title-retention bids alive after surviving the challenges presented to them in the three semifinal matches they conquered.

Villabrille, who is in his third year with NU, teamed up with his 2023 APACS Kazakhstan Future Series title partner, Solomon Padiz Jr., in a 24-22, 21-11 victory over fellow Bulldogs Lanz Zafra and Nestojan Tapales.

Meanwhile, Albo, UAAP Season 80 MVP with De La Salle University, joined forces with Lea Inlayo, a two-time UAAP champion with UP, in a rousing 21-14, 21-19 victory over University of Santo Tomas' Patricia De Leon and Marielle Alvarez.

Villabrille and Padiz Jr. will face their national team colleagues, head coach Ariel Magnaye and Christian Bernardo, for the title following the latter's 21-17, 21-15 win over UP's Kervin Llanes and Rey Angelo Pedron.

Albo and Inlayo, on the other hand, will be facing UP Fighting Maroons Patricia de Dios and Kimberly Lao, who won 21-18, 21-13 over University of Santo Tomas' Jennifer Saladaga and Rhafi Santos.

Reigning mixed doubles champions Villabrille and Albo likewise defeated John Gregg Paz and Marilou Dacillo, 21-11, 21-13, and will face Padiz and Inlayo or Bernardo and Alyssa Leonardo, who were still competing as of this writing.

The tournament concludes today (Tuesday) with the championship matches starting at 10 a.m. at the Gameville Ball Park in Mandaluyong City, with 1 million pesos in total prize money across the five events.