P1M MVP-PBaRS circuit unfolds in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines - The chase for cash prizes, ranking points and possible spots in the national pool begins today as the MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) circuit gets going at the Metro Sports Center in Lahug, Cebu City.

Sixty-three singles matches and eight doubles have been lined up in a busy first day of the five-day championship, kicking off a three-leg nationwide circuit held to provide the country’s leading shuttlers and upcoming stars a tournament where they could hone their talent and skills.

The tour, featuring the Open, Under-19 and U-15, is also aimed at discovering fresh talents, especially from the countryside, who could be tapped, developed and trained to become members of the national pool, now handled by Olympic gold medal coach Rexy Mainaky.

The lesser-fancied and aspiring players get the chance to show their wares in the first round of the event, sponsored by GOAL Pilipinas, with the seeded entries, headed by members of the national team, launching their respective bids in various divisions tomorrow.

Matches in the 64-player field boys’ U-19 kicks off hostilities at 9 a.m. with John Diamante clashing with Paolo Barrios, Jan Sinfuego tangling with John Lozada, Paul Gonzales colliding with John Quibranza and Joshua Rio facing off with Christian Cuyno. Other games pit Edrickson Malibiran vs Peter Tan, Ros Pedrosa vs Alexis Geverjuan, Lloyd Nguyen vs Bryan Mangawang and Vincent Manuel vs Gerloth Delizo.

Matches in the centerpiece men’s Open singles of the tournament, organized by the Philippine Badminton Association, headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay, chairman and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan, and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez, are also on tap starting at 9:30 a.m. with Ryan Fernandez slugging it out with Jornellous Castro, Joma Castro squaring off with Maverick Perez, Nikko Wu mixing it up with Vincent Tan, Christian Bitor dueling with Sherman Olalia, Mark Cadiz taking on Gian Manuel and Sean Chan meeting Tristan Santos.

For details and results, log on to www.pbars.com, according to tournament director Nelson Asuncion.

Toby Gadi and Markie Alcala, who swept the Open and U-15 titles in last year’s four-leg inaugurals of the event, backed by Gatorade, Krav Maga Phils., Sincere Construction and Development Corp., Vineza Industrial Sales, Victor PCome Industrial Sales, TV5 and Badminton Extreme Magazine, see action tomorrow.

Gadi, of Golden Shuttle Foundation, will take on Norbert Abutan-Mo while second seed Paul Vivas, of the Phl team-Victor, faces off with Brent Raffales Wu, also of GSF, in two of featured matches in the 64-player field.

Alcala, meanwhile, will meet the winner of the Ronald Ongcuango Jr.-Kurt Maghirang duel while No. 2 Patrick Gecosala clashes with the victor in the Michel Troyo-Edison Gambe match in the boys’ U-15 class.

GSF teammates Gelita Castilo and Bianca Carlos head the field in the ladies Open singles with Carlos also getting the top seed in the U-19 category of the event. Justin Natividad and Carlos Cayanan lead the boys’ U-19 cast while Carmela Zamora and Louise Ramos are the players to beat in the girls’ U-15.