Phl second in Sudirman Cup Level 4 in China

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines settled for runner-up finish in Level 4 of the Sudirman Cup 2011 World Mixed Team Championships, bowing to Sri Lanka, 1-4, in Qingdao, China recently.

Malvinne Ann Alcala and Gelita Castilo outsteadied Achini Rathnasiri and Samanthika Weerasinghe, 21-19, 17-21, 26-24, in 53 minutes to deliver the lone point for Team Phl in the five-match showdown between the group’s top two teams.

Earlier, the mixed doubles pair of Peter Magnaye and Alcala dropped a sorry 18-21, 19-21 decision to Edirimuni Perera and Weerasinghe, while Antonino Gadi succumbled to veteran Niluka Karunarathna, 12-21, 17-21, in men’s singles.

Bianca Carlos, winner of three titles in the inaugural Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) tournament back home, likewise fell short of her bid and bowed to Rathnasiri, 11-21, 13-21, while the men’s doubles pair of Magnaye and Paul Vivas lost to Karunarathna and Edirimuni Karunararhna, 20-22, 17-21.

The Philippines, whose campaign was sponsored by Vice President Jejomar Binay, also the president of the Philippine Badminton Association, sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan and Rep. Albee Benitez, came away with two shutout wins and a cliffhanger as it set up a clash with Sri Lanka for the top honors in Level 4 with the Filipino shuttlers, routing Seychelles and Israel with 5-0 victories before nipping Iceland, 3-2.

‘Our players played well but they need more exposure to gain more experience,” said head of delegation Gen. Federico Laciste.

The team was handled by coach Allan de Leon with Conrado Co as team manager.