Ramos Cup badminton under way at Club 650

MANILA, Philippines - The Ming Ramos Youth Cup Victor Age Group Badminton Championships 2009 unfolds today with the country’s top shuttlers and upcoming stars disputing top honors in various divisions at Club 650 in Libis, QC.

Paul Vivas and Malvinne Alcala, members of the national team that posted a top 10 finish in the World Juniors Badminton Championships in Malaysia recently, head the more than 300 players chasing titles in five divisions in the boys and girls singles and doubles events organized by the Philippine Badminton Association.

PBA president and former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos, in whose name the event is held, will hit the ceremonial serve along with other guests before the 8:30 a.m. opener of the tournament which also drew participants from the top badminton clubs and organizations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Vivas, of Allied-Victor PCOME, heads the field in the 19-under class, which includes second seed Philip Escueta of Whackers BA, and RP pool members No. 3 Ariel Magnaye and fourth ranked Ian Bautista.

Alcala, also of Allied-Victor PCOME, is the top seed in the 19-under distaff side with Anna Barredo, Danica Bolos and Gelli Ramos of DLSU Whackers taking the next three rankings in the centerpiece event. Alcala is also top ranked player in the 15-under category.

For draw results and updates, log on to www.matchcontrol.com and www.whackers.asia.

Gelita Castilo, the other RP team mainstay, is the player to watch in the girls’ 17-under along with No. 2 Abegail Garcia of JLTC.Flypower/Battledore, Janelle de Vera and Barredo, both of Trace-Whackers.

Amabel Sumbat of WWGBA, Alyssa Leonardo of MSI JRS team, Marina Caculitan of Whackers and Paola Bernardo, also of MSI JRS, lead the roster of young talents in the 13-under class along with Sarah Barredo and Iya Sevilla in the 11-under division, from where the future of RP badminton will emerge.

Virgil del Mundo of Whackers and Ivan Angsico of Allied-Victor PCOME gain the top two seedings in the boys’ 17-under while Francis Alejo of ETC and Anton Cayanan of Allied-Victor head the big 53-player field in the 15-under class.

PBA sec-gen George Piano said hostilities actually started Friday night with first round matches in the boys’ 15- and 17-under classes of the event, which also serves as a tryout for the national youth training pool.