Asuncions enter badminton final

Kennie and Kennevic Asuncion surprised everybody, including themselves, when they upended former Olympic silver medallists Tri Kusharjanto and Minarti Timur, 21-15, 21-18, yesterday to advance to the finals of the $120,000 Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton Championships presented by PLDT Business Solutions at the Philsports Arena.

Combining their hot start with a scrambling finish, the brother-sister tandem pounced on Timur’s wobbly game and Kusharjanto’s erratic performance to pound out the startling 30-minute victory in what proved to be their very first victory in a four-star, IBF-ranking tournament.

"We felt that Timur’s not on her top form so we pounced on her. But overall, we played pretty solid," said Kennevic, whose futile dives for the shuttle underscored his determination to win the match they wouldn’t want to lose before a roaring hometown crowd.

"I just don’t want to give up. Even if I knew that I couldn’t save the shuttle, I had to go for it," said Kennevic.

Twice his effort went for naught but his determination helped them pull through.

Kennevic delivered a smash in deep center of the Indons’ fort to give the hosts a two-point cushion, 19-17, in a closely-fought, tense-filled second set.

The Indons’ closed to within one on Kennie’s unforced error only to fall by two again as Kusharjanto’s shot slammed into the net, paving the way for Kennevic’s winner after a couple of returns to clinch the victory for the Philippines.

"We really didn’t expect to win this way, much more via a straight-set victory," said Nelson Asuncion, father-coach of the country’s premier shuttlers, whose last victory was in the Peru International last year.

Beating the Indons, silver medallists in the 2000 Olympics in Sydey, is one thing. Hurdling world No. 11 Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam of Thailand in the finals today is another.

"It will be tough. They have beaten us the last time we met in the Asian Championships. But we will surely be out there fighting," said Kennevic.

For making it to the finals of this event sponsored by Bingo Bonanza, JVC Phils., Inc., Smart and PLDT, the Asuncions have assured themselves of $4,800 plus some rungs in the world ranking where they are currently listed No. 69.

The Thai pair earlier fashioned out a 21-16, 21-16 victory over another Indon tandem of Muhamad Rizal and Gresya Polii. Also scoring a big reversal was Malaysian Roslin Hashim, who shocked second seed Wei Ng of Hong Kong, 21-15, 21-19, to arrange a sibling finale in the men’s singles offering $9,600. Top seed Hafiz Hashim swept Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand, 21-19, 21-13, in the other semis match.

The finals will start at 2 p.m.