Look who’s playing badminton: Richard Gomez, Marvin Agustin, Ricky Davao

Shuttlecocks went ablaze as two teams competed for the JVC Celebrity Cup, each tagging in the biggest names in showbiz. Shedding off the limelight for the rackets were Richard Gomez, Raffy Rodriguez, Dennis Padilla, Philip Lazaro, Gen. Edgar Aglipay, Jestoni Alarcon, Chiqui Roa, Stella Ruiz, Glenda Garcia and Samantha Lopez, completing the Dark Team roster, which won 6-3 over the Light Team of Ricky Davao, Rep. Teddy Locsin Jr., Bojo Molina, Mandy Ochoa, Mariz Ricketts, Alma Concepcion, Ace Espinosa and Marvin Agustin.

Capping the celebrity competition was a cocktail sponsored by JVC Phils. chairman, Atty. Faustino Salud, honoring Mamoru Otake, JVC Asia’s managing director and president of the Asian Badminton Confederation. Songbird Verni Varga rendered the night’s melodies, alongside charming Nami Salud. Spotted among the celebrity champions and JVC’s top honchos were former badminton Olympian Weena Lim, siblings Kennie and Kennivic Asuncion of the badminton National Team.

At the JVC Badminton Tournament Championships put up by IMG, Kennie Asuncion won a special award for having the most number of championships, having bagged the Mixed Doubles title with sibling Kennevic, the Ladies’ Doubles crown with partner Weena Lim and the Elite Ladies’ Singles title to complete a grand slam victory.

In the men’s division, it was Ian Piencenaves who topped the Men’s Singles, besting 89 other entries. Coupling with Arolas Amahit, Piencenaves also clinched the Men’s Doubles top prize.

The Elite Singles champions each won a cash prize of P15,000, together with trophies and certificates, eyewear from Rudy Project and a DVD component system from JVC. The Elite Doubles champions, for their part, also won P15,000 per pair, trophies and certificates plus a CD portable system backpack style from JVC.

For the Junior Category, Jimson Dionisio of the Bulacan Badminton Club was hailed champ in the Boys’ Singles, while Valle Verde’s Raquel Anne Guerrero won in the Girls’ Singles. Both won a college educational plan courtesy of Pioneer Allianz. These two champions will be joined by runners-up Rodel Raymundo Dawal and Rachel Anne Guerrero in a two-week badminton training overseas.

Ricky Boy Cajefe and Kelvin Ang were the champions in the Boys’ Doubles, and Raquel Anne and Rachel Anne Guerrero were the victors in the Girls’ Doubles. Raquel Anne won in the Mixed Doubles with partner Andrew Romualdez. In the Veterans Category, the Men’s Doubles champions were Salvador Banquiles and Renato Reyes of the PNP Badminton Club. Salvador and Jeannette Banquiles won in the Mixed Doubles.

Winners in the new category Corporate Invitational were IG Kids Food, followed by the HSBC team as first runner-up, making the ADB and Prudential Life Plans teams second runners-up. Eight companies were invited to participate in this new category.