In a rare but commendable feat for Philippine badminton, the Smash Pilipinas Philippine Badminton Team turned heads with exceptional performances in two major international tournaments—the Bahrain International Series 2024 and the Li-Ning Vietnam International Series.
Over the weekend, the team brought home an impressive medal haul of one gold, three silvers, and one bronze, signalling a resurgence of the sport in the country and solidifying the Philippines’ growing reputation in the global badminton arena.
The Philippine contingent delivered a stellar performance in Bahrain, especially in the men’s doubles event, where they achieved an unprecedented 1-2 finish.
The dynamic duo of July Villabrille and Solomon Padiz Jr. emerged victorious, clinching the gold medal in a thrilling all-Filipino final against fellow Filipino bets Christian Bernardo and Alvin Morada.
Villabrille and Padiz triumphed in a heart-stopping three-set battle, 21-14, 15-21, 28-26 over their compatriots.
In the men’s singles, Jewel Angelo Albo secured a well-deserved silver medal, displaying grit and hard work before falling short in the final against India’s Kavin Thangam in straight sets, 12-21, 17-21.
The Philippines also found success in the women’s singles division, with Mikaela De Guzman delivering a strong campaign to claim the bronze medal, advancing to the semifinals where she bowed to a formidable opponent in Sri Lanka’s Ranithma Liyanage, 11-21, 21-8, 18-21.
The momentum carried over to the Li-Ning Vietnam International Series, where the Philippines continued to excel, particularly in the women’s doubles category.
The tandem of Nicole Albo and Lea Inlayo put on an impressive display throughout the tournament, earning a silver medal after reaching the finals.
