MVP Cup may soon be RP Open

Businessman Manny V. Pangilinan, who brought his rich, star-studded tournament to fore last year, said making the MVP Cup a regular part of the international circuit is not a far-fetched idea.

"We’ve been asked whether we want to convert this into a real Philippine Open tournament," said the chairman of telecommunicaion giants PLDT and Smart.

The MVP Cup has drawn the best badminton players from Europe and Asia. And they keep coming back despite the fact that there are no circuit points at stake here.

"The main advantage is the money because in a bona fide tournament, you get the money if you win but not if you lose," said MVP, People Asia Magazine’s 2005 Man of the Year.

In the MVP Cup, a Ryder Cup style tournament between Asia and Europe, the winning team gets $60,000 and the non-winning team $40,000.

Because of the huge prize money, there are really no losers here. Not to mention the first-class treatment being showered on the foreign participants.

"That’s the advantage. The disadvantage is that you don’t get points. So if we convert this to an honest to goodness Philippine Open, with the same prize money and the points, it will surely bring more of the top players," MVP added.

"Is that the plan? " he was asked by The STAR.

"I guess so. We just need a good timing, maybe next year or two years from today. If we can make this a regular part of the (International Badminton Federation) circuit, why not," he answered.

Another possible option is top bring the MVP Cup to Europe and Asia on an alternate basis. Again, this could be worked out, according to MVP.

"I guess we just have to find a co-sponsor. Maybe Denmark. Right. In Denmark. Nokia is there," he said.

In the MVP Cup, the best is yet to come. — Abac Cordero