AB Leisure, Citibank gain JVC badminton semis

AB Leisure and Citibank pulled off a pair of 2-1 victories over RCBC and HSBC, respectively, to barge into the semifinal round of the rich JVC Open Badminton Championships which got underway yesterday at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.

Bannered by the men’s double tandem of Albee Benitez and Ricky Morales, AB Leisure fashioned out a 15-10, 15-11 victory over Francis Camarista and Ferdie Salvador of RCBC, and then leaned on the pair of Elaine Lao and Brandon Chan to score a 15-3, 15-0 rout over Joan Dioso and Eric Victoria in the mixed doubles.

RCBC took the ladies doubles as Vicky Tupas and Ana Cuisia beat Amy Ramirez and Pauline Santiago, 15-3, 15-9.

Not to be outdone, Citibank, behind Daniel Rupinta and Miguel Acosta, notched a 15-9, 15-3 win over HSBC’s Ginggoy Lotho and Ramon Osmeña in the men’s doubles then the tandem of Pia Manzano and Ricky Frias won the mixed doubles, 15-5, 15-0, that sent them to the semis of the tournament, one of the six events lined up in the annual event sponsored by electronics giant JVC.

The Philippine STAR clinched the third semis berth with a 3-0 victory over Pilipinas Shell while JG Summit and PLDT were still disputing the last slot at presstime.

Earlier, Toshinori Yokokawa, president of JVC Phils., declared the games open in elaborate opening rites graced by JVC Phils. general manager Kazue Salud, Atty. Faustino Salud, chair of the JVC Phils., Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, Steve Hontiveros of the Philippine Olympic Committee, Cynthia Carrion of Department of Tourism, Philippine Badminton Association president and former First Lady Amelita "Ming" Ramos, PBA vice president Gen. Edgar Aglipay and Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Noli Eala.

Eala later teamed up with Carrion to defeat the pair of Mrs. Ramos and Aglipay, 15-7, 15-13, in an exhibition game before a big, appreciative Sunday crowd.

Aside from the corporate division, other categories on tap in the fourth staging of the annual event which offers a record more than P1 million in cash and prizes are the elite, the juniors (16-under), veterans, celebrities and the school team competitions.

For details, visit the event’s website at www.jvcbadminton.com.

Ian Piencenaves and Kennie Asuncion, who ruled the men’s and women’s singles last year, head the record field in the event backed by Technomarine, Colours, Alaska, Rudy Project, Accel, Ayala Center, The STAR, Tokyo Tokyo, Lactacyd, 103.5 K-lite, Pioneer Insurance, Gosen and Victorinox Orginal Swiss Army Knives.

Piencenaves and Asuncion open their bids today at the start of the quarterfinal round of the elite category with the former, playing out of Philippine Army, battling Bogie de Guia of Valle Verde and the latter, also of Valle Verde, clashing with FEU’s Christopher Flores.