Gadi, Carlos seek to extend PBaRS reign

MANILA, Philippines - Toby Gadi and Bianca Carlos set out for another title repeat in their respective sides as they head the stellar cast in the P1 million MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) seventh leg firing off Friday at the Excel Badminton Center in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Close to 400 players have signed up for the five-day tournament, including members of the national pool and a big batch of rising junior players out for recognition and precious ranking points staked in the event sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation.

Gadi and Carlos, both of Golden Shuttle Foundation, swept the premier Open singles titles in last year’s staging of the annual event and both are raring to keep their reign against a slew of equally talented rivals, headed by Paul Vivas, Peter Magnaye, Patrick Natividad and Charlo Tengco in the men’s singles, and Gelita Castilo, Janelle de Vera, Nikki Servando, Jen Cayetano, Dia Magno and Danica Bolos in the ladies side.

Top seed Jose Lorenzo Yason and No. 2 Clarence Filart lead the boys’ singles field along with Mark Alcala, Jon Masongsong and Kyle Gosiaco while Carlos also heads the cast in the girls’ U-19 category along with No. 2 Patrisha Malibiran, Ma. Victoria Vizmonte, Pauline Escobar and De Vera.

Ronald Ongcuangco and Sarah Barredo banner the cast in the U-15 division of the country’s only ranking badminton tournament, sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay with sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan as chairman and Rep. Albee Benitez as sec-gen.

Backing the event are Gatorade, Vineza, Sincere Construction, Victor Pcome Industrial Sales and Krav Maga Philippines with TV 5, The Philippine STAR and Badminton Extreme Philippines Magazine as media partners.

Other clubs fielding in their top-notch bets are Yappies Smashes Badminton Group, Team Prima, Cami Shuttlers, Smash Degress Phils., Escoses Training Camp, Excel Badminton Center, Whackers Badminton Academy, Dare 4:13 Badminton Academy, UP Diliman, Allied Victor/UP, Precision Badminton, Space Shuttle Kidapawan, USLS Merci/Li-Ning Bacolod;

Victor PCOME, GCC Partners, City Shuttle Junior, City Shuttle-JB, Xavier University, MSI Jr. Team Babolat, JFTC.