Magnaye, Vivas lead FDG Cup winners

MANILA, Philippines - Peter Magnaye and Paul Vivas recovered from a first-set setback and dominated fellow national team members Joper Escueta and Ronel Estanislao in the decider, hacking out a 19-21, 21-19, 21-13 victory to capture the Open men’s doubles crown in the FDG Cup Open Badminton Championships at Robinsons Midtown Atrium Sunday.

The tough win, worth P180,000, capped the Magnaye-Vivas’ pair impressive title run that saw the duo upend the top seeded pair of Toby Gadi and Thai partner Sudhket Prapakamol in the third round and turn back Ariel delos Santos and Gerald Sibayan in another thrilling three-setter in the quarters.

They then stamped their class in the semis, bundling out Carlos Cayanan and Alvin Morada, 21-13, 21-15, to arrange a title showdown with Escueta and Estanislao, who beat Jaime Junio Jr. and Indon Anggy Sepdianto, 21-14, 21-14, in the Final Four of the event held in honor of Robinsons Land Corp. president Frederick D. Go.

World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and badminton legend and Europe’s best Peter Gade of Denmark dazzled the crowd with their world-class act as they played exhibition matches with Go and former Phl No. 1 Kennevic Asuncion highlighting the three-day staging of the annual event.

Actor/sportsman Richard Gomez also teamed up with Kennie Asuncion to beat Iya Villana and Kennevic Asuncion, 21-18, in a one-set exhibition game.

No. 2 Gelita Castilo of Ateneo/Golden Shuttle Foundation and partner Laura Choinet of France foiled the fifth-seeded pair of Dia Magno and China’s Lili Wang with a pair of extended thrillers, 23-21, 23-21, to capture the women’s doubles crown worth P140,000.

Castilo and Choinet whipped Saro Fullante and Natalia Poluakan of Indonesia, 21-17, 21-7, to seal a title duel with Magno and Wang, who surprised the top-seeded pair of Malvinne Alcala and Indon Putri Medita, 21-16, 21-19.

Alcala, however, redeemed herself by winning the Open mixed doubles crown in partnership with Indon Samuel Paulus via a 21-14, 17-21, 21-19 victory over Castilo and Indon Yandi Sanusi. Alcala and Paulus split the top P160,000 purse.