Asuncion opens state-of-the-art badminton center

Nelson Asuncion, father and coach of the talented tandem of Kennevic and Kennie, launched over the weekend the Asuncion Badminton Center (ABC) located at E. Maclang corner P. Guevarra Sts., San Juan with an opening bash attended by some known showbiz personalities.

Philippine Badminton Association (PBA) president and former First Lady Amelita "Ming" Ramos and executive vice-president Gen. Edgar Aglipay and San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito were the guests of honor in the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

Ricky Davao, Ricardo Cepeda and Patrick dela Rosa played exhibition games with fellow actors and actresses while Richard and Lucy Torres Gomez and Snooky Serna watched from the sidelines.

Kennevic and Kennie, who gave the country its first Southeast Asian Games medal by winning a bronze in the mixed doubles in Hanoi, Vietnam, also played an exhibition game while Nelson himself and ABC’s house trainer Hercules Callanta conducted a free clinic.

Also present in the simple opening rites highlighted by a Dragon Dance were ABC vice president Phil Manalang and treasurer Tyrone Sioco and Albee Benitez of Bingo Bonanza, which is sponsoring the bid of Kennie and Kennevic for slots in this year’s Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Asuncion said the ABC, which has a total of eight badminton courts—six in the second floor and two practice courts on the ground floor—is a fulfillment of a long cherished dream.

"This has been my goal, to have my own school of badminton, and this is just the start,"Asuncion, who played for the national squad in the 1983 SEAG in Singapore, told The STAR.

"So this is not just a badminton center, we also teach players who aspire to make it big someday," he added.

Aside from the state-of-the-art courts, the ABC also boasts a reflexology room and a food center at the mezzanine area with the gym exclusively for members who want to improve on their strength and speed.

Asuncion also helped veteran and former PSC commissioner Weena Lim to make it to the badminton event of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Another Olympian, Fil-Am Erika Vonheiland also once trained under Asuncion although she opted to represent the United States during the 1992 edition of the quadrennial meet in Barcelona, Spain.