By: Elma Sarmiento 

Asalways, PinoySG Badminton Club started this year with the biggest OpenTournament in the history of events organized by Filipino Badminton Groups withour objective and goal set in mind. In 2008, we have made up a number of tournaments and events that wassupported and participated by most of the
Filipino Badminton Groups in Singapore together with the support of differentcompanies that emerges as the Tournament Sponsors both from Singapore and fromthe Philippines and all these events has proven that our club with the growingnumber of members is the biggest in Singapore.

In this year’s 2^nd PinoySG Badminton Open Tournament 2009, thenumber of participants exceeded the 1st Open Tournament that was held last 2-3March 2008 from 190 to 232 participants this year. The participants are allFilipino professionals from different fields and profession and arerepresenting the majority of the skilled workforce of Filipinos working inSingapore.

Filipino Badminton Groups who participated in thisyear’s event were PinoySG Badminton Club, PinoySG Sunday Smashers (PSG SundayGroup), Tropang Smashers, Team Lagalag, BM8, Pinoy Shuttlers, Team B3, UTACPinoy Badminton, Team WIN, and UP Alumni Association in Singapore.

The official sponsors of the event are ALVEO LandCorporation, a subsidiary of Ayala Land Corporation and member of the AyalaGroup of Companies,  SmartTel,Philippine Airlines, Artric Sports Pacific & Pinnacle Pradajaya Pte Ltd  (official distributor of Gamma USABadminton, Toalson and RSL), and PinoySG.com.

A full packed audience and a throng of badmintonplayers with their own uniform slowly filled up the 4^th floor ofJurong West Sports Hall on the first day of 2^ND PinoySG Badminton OpenTournament 2009 last March 7, 2009.

The program started at 9:30am with a prayer led by Vynes Silva and was followed by thesolo rendition of National Anthem by RobertVillamor. Gary Cristobal, PinoySGBadminton club head, welcomed the participants with a short speech and it wasfollowed by the oath of sportsmanship led by Antonio Racho and the  introduction of teams, players and umpires from Singapore BadmintonAssociation by Elma Sarmiento.

To entertain the crowd and players alike, the PSGbadminton club officers (badheadz) composed of Ma. Cristina Molinyawe, Emilio Niduaza, David Batalla, Vera Arcega,Brenda Vistan and Ella Pazperformed a dance intermission number for everyone’s delight. Gary Cristobaland Antonio Racho followed with a ceremonial smash which was represented by twolong serve and a deep smash to symbolize the 2 years of existence of the cluband the official start of the games.

Highlight on the first day includes the thrillingMen’s A Doubles championship match between NinoAmores and Joseph Chan of TeamLagalag and Eric Cruz and Louie Gomez of Pinoy Shuttlers, Women’sA Doubles Championship Match between JhoBonto and Nimfa Trompeta againstKharla delos Reyes and Anne Gavieta both from TropangSmashers.

Championship Game for Men’s B+ Doubles was playedby Anthony Pabalan and Rex Pineda ofTropang Smashers against Owen Lorenaand Lito Uy of PinoySG BadmintonClub while Women’s B championship game was played by Cyren Borras and Myrene Tabor versus Apryl Gelawa and Suzi Senboth from Tropang Smashers.  

During half time break, PinoySG’s very own hip hopdance group, PSG WEML Dance Group provided a nerve breaking dance performancefor the crowd’s entertainment.

Representative from the different companies who sponsoredthe event graced the tournament. They have provided different prizes for theraffle draws which includes Towels from Smarttel, Bags from PhilippineAirlines, Polo Shirts from Alveo Land Corporation. Major prizes for the raffledraw were Gamma USA Badminton Bags and rackets from Artric Pacific Sports and PinnaclePradajaya Pte Ltd. Who also provided free Gamma badminton grips for allparticipants

The 2^nd day of PinoySG Badminton Open Tournament2009 marked the battle for Mixed Doubles Category for both A and B levels aswell as the competition for the Men’s B- in which the championship match wasplayed by Jojo Guevarra and Raul Rocamora from UPAAS and Mark Canillo and Ramiel Layug from PinoySG Badminton Club while Apryl Gelawa and AnthonyPabalan of Tropang Smashers and HenryDayag and Jennycar Macapagal ofPinoy Shuttlers played for the Championship game for Mixed Doubles B.

The final match up of Mixed Doubles Level A betweenGary Cristobal and Elma Sarmiento ofPinoySG Badminton Club and AnnalynDomaboc and Allen Mark Morillo of Pinoy Shuttlers literally shook thesports hall as the crowd cheers and shouted with intensity. 

The 2^nd PinoySG Badminton OpenTournament 2009 ended its 2^nd day with the awarding of winners andpicture taking. Winners of the 2^nd PinoySG Open Tournament 2009 areas follows: