Asuncions back on top of Yonex Sunrise badminton open

MANILA, Philippines – The brother-sister tandem of Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion made a triumphant return in the 2008 Yonex Sunrise Philippines National Badminton Open Championships. The Asuncions, which skipped the 2006 and 2007 editions of the annual tournament to concentrate on their 2008 Beijing Olympics bid, ruled the mixed doubles open event completing their amazing run with a 24-22, 21-10 win over the upstart pair of Ronel Estanislao and Malvinne Ann Venice Alcala in Sunday night’s finals at the Yonex Philippines Badminton Center in Mandaluyong City. Representing the Golden Shuttle Foundation (GSF), Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion seemed headed for a tough match against the pair from Allied-Astec-Club 650 as Estanislao and Alcala made them earn their points in the opening set. Still the Asuncions prevailed but was forced to several ties claiming the first set after Estanislao could not return Kennevic’s smash. The Asuncions then completely dominated the second set with Kennie taking care of the net with her timely drop shots and drives while Kennevic manned the back court and peppered the Estanislao-Alcala tandem with crisp smashes and baseline shots. What helped the Asuncions is Alcala, who is also playing under Sports Hub-RP Team, ran into a spate of errors and gave their opponents several clear shots that Kennie returned for a smash. The Asuncions, unranked in the annual tournament that they won in 2004 and 2005, entered the finals after a 21-14, 21-10 win over Rodel Bartolome and Francesca Bermejo. Their other wins were against third ranked Bryan Chan and Rachel Guerrero in the Last 8, 21-14, 21-5, and a walkover against Loren Palomer and Abigail Papa. Kennie then added the women’s doubles title under her belt as she teamed up with fellow National team mainstay Karyn Cecilia Velez to win the open event. They defeated Alcala and Gelita Castilo in the finals to give GSF its third crown in the open division. GSF also won the men’s singles open crown when Toby Gadi waltzed to a 21-12, 21-11 victory against Ian Gil Piencenaves. Piencenaves bounced back in the men’s doubles open when he partnered with Marlon Villarin to beat the Arolas Amahit-Mark Alvin Natividad pair in the finals, 20-22, 21-18, 21-16, while wildcard entry Castillo downed Alcala for the women’s singles open crown, 20-22 21-10 21-19. – GMANews.TV