SEA Games bronze a start of something bigger – Benitez
Although its Southeast Asian Games campaign in Singapore ended only with a bronze medal, the Philippine Badminton Association (PBA) Smash Pilipinas considered the achievement a start of something bigger for Philippine badminton particularly in the Southeast Asian region.
PBA secretary-general and Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez said the bronze medal finish of Philip Joper Escueta and Ronel Estanislao in the recent 28th SEA Games shows that the program for the national team is on the right track.
“We just have to continue with the program. While Southeast Asia has the powerhouse countries in world badminton like Indonesia and Malaysia, we are slowly making our mark as a badminton country,” Benitez said. “The coaches and the players are all progressing.” National team mentor Paulus Firman did not give any assurance that the country’s men’s doubles bet of Escueta, Estanislao and Paul Jefferson Vivas and Peter Gabriel Magnaye would win a medal in the biennial meet because SEA Games has a very strong field.
PBA Smash Pilipinas had just decided to send two men’s doubles pair for overseas exposure and a bronze medal finish would be their modest goal, according to Paulus.
“We are very happy that we’ve taken home a bronze medal in the SEA Games. It’s not easy competition though,” said Escueta. “And we did not go back home empty-handed. We will do our best to surpass this accomplishment in the next SEA Games.”
Escueta and Estanislao defeated Singaporeans Wijaya Hendra and Hee Yong Kai Terry in the round of 16 (21-18, 21-15) to reach the quarterfinal round where they blasted Cambodians Kanora Nguon and Yong Vannak Teav (21-8, 21-10) to advance to the semis.
Escueta and Estanislao lost to Indonesians in the semifinals to settle for bronze. Magnaye and Vivas failed to reach the semifinals after losing to Indonesia.