Best of Asia, Euro clash today

For the second straight year, badminton fans will be treated to a three-day showcase of world-class action when a select group of European players slug it out with Asia’s finest shuttlers in the MVP Cup Asia vs Europe 2 beginning today at the Araneta Coliseum.

Reigning Olympic and world champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia and world No. 2 Lin Dan of China banner the crack Asian squad, which humbled Europe, 11-8, in last year’s inaugurals of this event sponsored by PLDTmyDSL and Smart Communications Inc. and patterned after the Ryder Cup of golf.

But the Europeans are coming into the $100,000 event raring to even things up with their continental rivals in what promises to be another explosive duel of power, speed, skill and precision among some of the world’s top players.

"We’re so proud to bring another edition of the MVP Cup to the Philippines. The goal of this tournament is to expose Filipino athletes to world class competition on their home soil," said Manny Pangilinan, chairman of PLDT and Smart and under whose name the event is held.

Hostilities start at 4 p.m. with prices pegged at P300, P500, P750 and P1,000. Tickets are available at all Ticketnet outlets and at the Araneta Coliseum ticket booth.

Meanwhile, the event, organized locally by the Philippine Badminton Association, will be launched at 11 a.m. today at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City.

Gail Emms and Donna Kellogg of England, the world No. 4 in women’s doubles, and the mixed doubles pair of Tomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter-Juhl of Denmark, ranked No. 10 in the world spearhead the Europeans’ bid in the tournament produced by IMG and jointly sanctioned by Badminton Asia and Badminton Europe.

The Emms-Kellogg tandem will be up against the Asian pair of Saralee Thoungthongkam and Sathinee Chankrachangwong of Thailand, ranked No. 8 in the world, while the Laybourn-Juhl pair will be ranged against the local brother-sister tandem of Kennie and Kennevic Asuncion, who jumped from No. 69 to a high 21st in the world ranking following a series of impressive performances the last few months.

That include a runner-up finish in the recent Philippine Open, a four-star IBF tournament, and a couple of victories in New Zealand and Australia.

Danes Kenneth Jonassen and Niels Christian Kaldau, No. 4 and 13, respectively, in the world, will be Europe’s bets in the men’s singles against Hidayat and Lin while Dutch No. 6 Mia Audina Tjiptawan and world No. 7 Yao Jie will have their hands full against world No. 1 Zhang Ning of China and No. 5 Wang Chen of Hong Kong in the ladies singles.

In a minor change in Europe’s lineup, Robert Blair replaces an injured Michael Logosz to team up with John Mateusiak against the Malaysian pair of Choong Fook and Lee Wan Wah, ranked No. 7 in the world.

The event is expected to further generate interest in the sport, now one of the country’s most popular with tournaments held almost every week. In fact, the MVP Cup 2 is staged five days after the JVC Open, long considered as the unofficial national championships.

"I have no doubt that our Filipino badminton fans will come in droves not just to cheer on our local bets but also to enjoy the sight of these athletes in action. 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," said Pangilinan.

A total of nine matches — three per day — will be played with points for each match to vary each day. Matches in the first day will be worth 1 point apiece, while games in the second and third days are worth 2 and 3 points each, respectively, for a total of 18 points. The team to score 10 points will be declared automatic winner.

The winning team will get $60,000 while the losing squad will take home $40,000.

Order of play for today’s matches will be the men’s singles, ladies singles and the men’s doubles while the second ladies singles, men’s singles and ladies doubles on tap tomorrow. The final day will have the mixed doubles and the men’s singles and ladies singles events, the last two on captain’s picks.

Matches will be broadcast live over ABC 5, the official TV station, from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Replays will be on July 21, 3.30 p.m.-6.30 p.m./July 22, 4 p.m.-7 p.m./July 23, 3 p.m.-6 p.m. and July 8 at 6.30 p.m.-7 p.m. on MVP Cup Primer.

The event is backed by JVC, Nokia, Snickers Chocolates, Information Gateway, The Philippine Star, Toby’s Sports, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yonex-Sunrise, Discovery Suites, California Pizza Kitchen and Gatorade.