PBA kicks off grassroots program in Tuguegarao

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Badminton Association kicked off its nationwide grassroots development program under the PBA Bagong BIDA project in Tuguegarao City last week with clinics and seminars held simultaneously with the annual Aquarius Cup Badminton Championships at the Play N Smash Badminton Center.

Fifty-three students and teachers from the Human Kinetics and BSED Major in Sports Science and P.E. from Cagayan State U, University of Saint Louis, University of Cagayan Valley, Cagayan National High School, St. Paul University Phils. and aspirants took part in the two-day technical official seminar conducted by Efren Pollentes, an accredited umpire of the Badminton Asia Confederation.

“I’m happy that majority of the participants are young since they have much time to serve as technical officials. This is the first time that I conducted this kind of seminar attended mostly by the youth,” said Pollentes, also an Australian Badminton Association certified coach.

The PBA Bagong BIDA Grassroots Program is sanctioned by the PBA headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay, chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and secretary-general Rep. Albee Benitez and sponsored by Victor, the PBA official equipment sponsor exclusively distributed by PCOME Industrial Sales, Inc.

Pollentes, also a PBA accredited mentor, through the help of PBA Events and GDP coordinator Joel Mabborang, also conducted a badminton clinic among 40 kids aged 10-14 years priming up for the Cagayan Valley Regional Athletic Association.

“This is a good start for us and I can say that our pilot project was very successful through the valuable support of Joan Dunuan and Mario Dunuan of Play N Smash Badminton Club and Sherwin Simangan of Tuguegarao Badminton Association,” said PBA Bagong BIDA program director PCSupt. Gen. Federico Laciste. “We really need this kind of program to further develop the sport and discover talents from the countryside and I encourage all PBA member clubs to do the same.”