MVP-PBaRS tourney offers P1M purse

MANILA, Philippines - The MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) is putting up another P1 million championship next month with the bulk of the prize fund to be disputed in the premier Open division of the ranking tournament at Powersmash and Makati Coliseum.

Winners in the men’s and women’s singles and doubles and mixed doubles will receive P70,000 each while the runners-up in all categories will get P35,000 each, making it the richest in any Open tournament. Also on tap are the Under-19 and Under-15 categories.

Registration is ongoing with deadline set on Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. at the PBaRS office at 20 E. Maclang cor. P. Guevarra Sts., San Juan City, according to PBaRS tournament director Nelson Asuncion. On-line registration can also be made on pbars.com.

The elims will be played at Powersmash on Oct. 27-28 with the quarters, semis and finals slated at Makati Coliseum on Oct. 29-31.

The event, organized by the Philippine Badminton Association, headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay, chair Manny V. Pangilinan and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez in their continuing effort to produce world-class players, is expected to draw the cream of the country’s crop along with a slew of upcoming players chasing not only for fame and fortune but also for ranking points. They include Joper Escueta, Bianca Carlos, Peter Magnaye, Gelita Castilo, Ronel Estanislao, Paul Vivas, Dia Magno, Jen Cayetano, Kim Mayono and siblings Malvinne and Mark Alcala.

The tournament, sponsored by GOAL Pilipinas and backed by Krav Maga Phils., Badminton Extreme, Vineza Industrial Sales, Gatorade, TV5 and Sincere, is the country’s only ranking event where players earn points based on their performances.

The upcoming event is actually the second of three tournaments lined up by the MVPSF-PBaRS this year. Cebu hosted the kickoff leg last May.

The third and final leg of this year’s circuit, supported by official equipment sponsor Victor, exclusively distributed in the Phl by PCOME Industrial Sales, will be held Nov. 30-Dec. 4 in Cagayan de Oro City.