Gadi, Castilo head cast in PBaRS tilt

MANILA, Philippines – Antonino Gadi and Gelita Castilo try to bring their respective games to a higher level as they lead a strong field in the Open division of the PBaRS (Philippine Badminton Ranking System) tournament firing off March 27 at Powersmash in Makati.

Gadi, a three-time Yonex Open men’s singles champion, banners the field in the men’s side of the centerpiece event while Castilo, a two-time winner of the Yonex Open ladies plum, looms as the player to beat in the distaff side of the tournament, which offers a total prize of P1 million.

Emmanuel Garcia, Wilfredo Amoroso and former national players Melvin Llanes, Lloyd Escoses, Jaime Llanes will try to foil Gadi while Dia Magno, Bianca Carlos, Jubie Ann Vallarta and Ma. Isabelle Villaran are tipped to crowd Castilo for the top P70,000 purse.

Meanwhile, leading badminton equipment brand Victor has been tapped as sponsor of the kickoff leg of a four-stage nationwide ranking circuit during PBaRS inaugurals at Robinsons Place Ermita graced by Vice President Jejomar Binay, former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos, and Bacolod Rep. Albee Benitez last weekend.

“It’s a privilege for Victor to be the equipment sponsor of PBaRS. We share same objective – to further develop the sport and produce world caliber players. And I thank VP Binay, Mrs. Ramos and Rep. Benitez for making this possible,” said Alexander Villamanca, president/CEO of Victor Pcome Industrial Sales, Inc., the country’s exclusive distributor of Victor brand.

Backing the event, sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation-Goal Pilipinas! and Victor and which features the Open, Under 19 and Under 15 for boys and girls divisions, are the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Kelvin Panganiban, Cassandra Lim and Carlo Remo banner the junior cast in the tournament which has also lured UAAP stars Angelica Ramos, Bryan Chan, Charlo Tengco, Patrick Natividad, Salvador Kapunan, JC Clarito, Paula Tan and RJ Ormilla.

The finals of the first leg of the circuit, backed by Gatorade and Powersmash with The Philippine STAR, TV5, Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT and 103.5 WOW! as media partners, will be held at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. For details, contact 725-2568 or telefax 725-4942 or log on to www.pbars.com.

Action shifts to Bacolod on May 29-June 4 for the second leg while Davao will host the third stage on July 31-Aug. 6 for players in the provinces to get the chance to play in top-level competitions.

The circuit, designed to raise the Filipinos’ level of play and come up with a truly national ranking system, will culminate in the VP Grand Prix Badminton Open Championships on Oct. 22-29 in Manila.