Top men’s doubles pairs ang lahok ng Pinas sa SEAG badminton

MANILA, Philippines - Dalawang doubles pair lamang ang ipapadala ng Philippine Badminton Association (PBA) sa 28th Southeast Asian Games sa Singapore na gaganapin sa June 5-16.

Tanging sina Paul Jefferson Vivas at Peter Gabriel Magnaye gayundin ang tamdem nina Philip Joper Escueta at Ronel Estanislao ang ilalahok ng PBA bagama’t naglaan ang joint task force ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) ng tig-10 slots para sa men’s at women’s badminton team ng Pinas.

Ayon kay PBA-Smash Pilipinas national head coach Paulus Firman, sa huling pakikipagpulong kay 2015 SEA Games Chief of Mission Julian Camacho, nagdesisyon ang PBA-Smash Pilipinas na  ang dalawang pinakamahusay na men’s doubles team na may kakahayang manalo ng bronze medal ang ipadadala ng Pinas.

“SEA Games badminton competition level is definitely high. It’s too much for us since it’s still a long, long process before we can compete there. Then, we were given 20 slots. I just wanted to be realistic that’s why I only send players who have a chance to win at least a bronze,” sabi ni coach Paulus. “But it also depends on the draw that’s why I can’t give any assurance. We badly need more international exposures to improve the level of play. Our purpose in the SEA Games is to give our doubles players the international exposure they need.”

Sina Vivas at Magnaye ay nanalo noong nakaraang taon sa Swiss Open men’s doubles sa Switzerland na nagpataas ng kanilang ranking sa Badminton World Federation men’s doubles category.

Ayon kay Paulus, ang powerhouse teams ng Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, host Singapore at Vietnam ang mga siguradong magdodomina sa badminton sa SEAG.