Hitting it right

Badminton is a good form of exercise," says Butch Jimenez, senior vice president and head of PLDT retail business group. "I enjoy badminton because I can play it with my family."

Jimenez’s interest in badminton goes beyond playing it with his family, though. As part of PLDT and as a lover of the sport, Jimenez enjoyed all the games during the recently concluded MVP Cup Asia vs Europe 2.

Last year, Asia got the cup. This year, it was Europe’s turn to take the cup home – and badminton lovers hereabouts are looking forward to next year’s tourney, where the score as to who is better will be settled.

The MVP Cup was played at the Araneta Coliseum and the top prize amounted to a total of $100,000 – the winning team got $60,0000 and the runner-up, $40,000. The MVP Cup is an invitational event where the best players from Europe and Asia are invited to participate. This way, we get to see the best in the world play here.

"The goal of this tournament is to expose Filipino athletes to world-class competition in their home soil," says PLDT and Smart Communications chairman Manny V. Pangilinan at the presscon before the tournament. "We aspire to achieve athletic excellence in a sport we are passionate about and show the rest of the world that our country is an emerging force in badminton."

Just like Pangilinan, Jimenez is a firm believer in the talent of the Filipino badminton players. He sees badminton as a sport that does not put Filipinos at a disadvantage. Badminton is one sport that, given enough support and international exposure, can bring pride, glory, and prestige to the country," he adds.

Fact is, the interest in the sport has not waned, if the crowd attendance at the MVP Cup 2 is to be the measure. In spite of a typhoon on the first day, the Araneta Coliseum was packed with players, lovers of the game, and fans of the international players. The crowd was so into the games that there seemed to be no point scored that did not get loud cheers and applause from the very appreciative audience. And the players gave it their all to win and because they are truly the best in the sport today.

"You can’t do much better than getting the No. 1 players in the world to join the MVP Cup which we have successfully achieved," says Jimenez.

The international exposure also contributes to the development of the growth of badminton in the country.

Jimenez believes that the more Filipinos are exposed to the best players and competition, the more the sport will be accepted here and be popular among the young.

"But, more importantly, the Cup has put the Philippines on the international badminton map," adds Jimenez. "It showed the whole world that our country could successfully stage a world sporting event."

The MVP Cup 2 was telecast in five countries – UK, Russia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Jimenez reveals that there are plans to make the MVP Cup Invitational into an Open. This way, he adds, it will allow players to gain points credited towards higher individual rankings.

"This would bring the MVP Cup to a higher level than it is today and put it at par with the world’s most prestigious badminton tournaments," he notes.

The interest of badminton fans in the sport is far from waning. And it is definitely not a fad for the younger generation of Filipinos who see the sport as one where they can compete in internationally. And tournaments like the MVP Cup can only help keep that interest alive.

Jimenez believes that there is a growing crop of young badminton players who are being raised from the grassroots level. "But, truth to tell, we have high hopes that the Asuncion siblings (Kennevic and Kennie who competed for RP in the MVP Cup) will continue to climb the ladder and bring more pride to the country," says Jimenez.

Indeed.But there is still a score to be settled. And badminton enthusiasts are looking forward to MVP Cup 3 to see who is really better – Asia or Europe. Badminton is one sport where Asia is a force to reckon with. Next year, Asia will definitely fight to regain its supremacy in a sport it loves.

"I would have to say that Asia will be hungrier to regain the glory," says Jimenez. "The winner will be the one who wants it more."