Asuncions brace for tough RP Open campaign

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Despite the upsurge of talented players from the youth
ranks, the brother-sister tandem of Kennie and
Kennevic Asuncion continues to be the Philippines’
best bets in the international arena and will remain
as such unless, of course, someone or some could
finally match up with world-class players.

The upcoming Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open Badminton
Championships in July will again be a showcase of the
foreign bets’ talent and skills, that’s for sure. But
it is also certain that the Asuncions will be out
there fighting as they wont in past international
campaigns.

But for the durable Filipino pair, playing elsewhere
is far different than playing before their countrymen
where pressure, most often, gets the better of them.

“There’s more pressure playing here than outside the
country because they’re playing before the Filipinos.
They would really want to give it their best playing
in front of them, so it adds pressure to their game,”
said Nelson Asuncion, father and coach of the popular
duo.

One thing is sure though, the pair will give it their
best shot when the second staging of the $120,000
Bingo Bonanza Philippine Open is held July 18-22 at
the Philsports Arena in Pasig City, Metro Manila.

Better than the one they dished out in their gritty
but losing stand to the Thai tandem of Sudket
Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam, who silenced
the screaming Filipino fans with their hard-earned
two-set victory over the Asuncions in last year’s
mixed doubles final of the RP Open.

“The only thing were sure of is that they would be
giving it their best shot. I’m sure they’ll do their
best in the RP Open,” added Asuncion.

Currently ranked No. 15 in the world mixed doubles,
the Asuncions, who saw action in the Singapore and
Indonesia Opens last month, is scheduled to play in
three more tough tournaments as part of their buildup
for the Open, including the Thai and the China Opens.

With the World Badminton Federation coming up with
Super Series tournaments for the first time, players
now have more top-level tournaments to compete in
although the Asuncions have been struggling in the
face of the continued rise in the level of
international play.

“As always, it’s hard to say what the outcome would be
but all they can do is to work hard to maintain their
ranking and go higher than their current standing,”
said Asuncion, adding that only the top 32 get spots
in the main draw of each Super Series tournament.

Meantime, registration for the event, held under the
auspices of the Philippine Badminton Association, is
now ongoing with deadline set on June 12, according to
the organizing IMG (International Management Group),
which boasts of a wealth of experience in running
successful high-profile badminton events.

All entries must be made on an Entry Form and sent via
mail, fax or email to PBA (Philippine Badminton
Association) Badminton Hall, Rizal Memorial Sports
Complex, Malate, Manila, Philippines; tel. Nos. 632
303 1070; 632 3382431 or fax: 632 303 1070; Email:
joebm_13@yahoo.com.

The event, backed by Victor, exclusively distributed
by Pcome Industrial Sales, Inc., the RP Open will be
played after the Thailand Open, another Grand Prix
gold event slated July 3-8 in Bangkok and the China
Super Series set July 10-15 in Chengdu City.