THE Philippines clinched two bronze medals in the recent Sydney International Open at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Hall in Australia.
Ariel Magnaye and Thea Pomar bagged the mixed doubles bronze, and Pomar later teamed up with Alyssa Leonardo to settle for the medal in the women’s doubles.
Magnaye, a former University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Most Valuable Player, and Thea Pomar advanced to the semifinals following a 21-16, 19-21, 21-10 win over New Zealand’s Niccolo Tagle and Anona Pak.
Pomar and another UAAP champion, Leonardo, also made the semifinals after disposing of Kiwis Pak and Fransisca Rahardia, 21-19, 25-23.
Magnaye and Pomar, however, succumbed to Japan’s Tadayuka Urai and Rena Miyauri, 20-22, 19-21, and Pomar and Leonardo bowed to Chinese-Taipei’s Li Ting Peng and Chien Hui Yu, 11-21, 12-21, to miss the gold-medal round.
The Philippine Badminton Association (PBA) is in a rebuilding phase, but its president, Albee Benitez, never doubted the team’s capabilities.
“We never doubted the team’s ability to win. It is through international tournaments that we can validate our program,” Benitez said.
“Joining international tournaments have become significant for the development of our players. In a few years, the goal is to produce Filipino world champions,” PBA Secretary-General Christopher Quimpo said.
The other members of the team were Nicole Albo, Sarah Barredo, Joper Escueta, Paul Pantig, Alvin Morada, Ros Pedrosa and Solomon Padiz. They were coached by Arolas Amahit Jr. and Ralph Mendez.