Grudge duel up in FDG Cup Open

MANILA—Ronel Estanislao and Paul Vivas renew their rivalry with Aries delos Santos and Gabriel Villanueva as they vie for the P160,000 purse in the Open men’s doubles category of the FDG Cup 2011 National Open and Invitational badminton tournament on July 1 and 2 at PowerSmash in Makati City.

The two pairs split honors in the first two legs of the PBaRS (Philippine Badminton Ranking System) tournament with Delos Santos-Villanueva winning in their first meeting at PowerSmash before Estanislao-Vivas exacted revenge with a straight-set victory in the second leg in Bacolod.

“This year’s edition promises to be the most exciting, this being the first time the FDG Cup will be opened to the public and offering the richest purse in Open doubles category,” said Frederick D. Go, president of Robinsons Land, in whose honor the tournament is being held.

John Kenneth Monterubio and Gerard Sibayan of Allied-Victor and the Andrei Babad-Peter Magnaye pair are also in the hunt for the richest purse staked in Open doubles category.

Malvinne Alcala, Gelita Castilo and Dia Nicole Magno, who swept the Open women’s doubles crowns in the PBaRS’ first two legs, gun for the P80,000 top prize.

Also on tap is the Invitational competitions featuring world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei, who will play exhibition games with fellow Malaysian ace Koo Kien Keat, currently world No. 4 in men’s doubles with Boon Heong Tan, on July 2.