Asuncion Badminton Center
Mr. Nelson A. Asuncion was a national player in the Philippine badminton team during the 1970’s and 1980’s. He went on to become the founding Head Coach of the Valle Verde Badminton Youth Team (VVBYT). On Oct. 9, 1983 (Sun), during his surprise birthday dinner, Mr. Nelson A. Asuncion officially accepted the offer to be head coach of Valle Verde Badminton Youth Team (VVBYT) to the late Pocholo Ramirez manager then of the Valle Verde Country Club (VVCC). Present were VVCC members and parents.
The composition of Valle Verde Badminton Youth Team (VVBYT) had to be members or a dependent of the club member to be part of the team. The kids all trained for FREE under the Master Coach Nelson. To cover the training expenses like court fees, shuttlecocks, uniform, & equipments, Coach Nelson single handedly looked for friends and eventually companies to help the team with its expenses. Everyone had a chance to join the VVBYT but he had strict guidelines for the team. He is known for the discipline he instills with no compromise. Eventually, VVBYT became the best-club in local youth competition.
In 1985, Valle Verde Badminton Team’s first training trip at Fuzhou China for 6 weeks was sponsored by Mr. Lucio Tan of Asia Brewery. Players that joined this trip were Ricky Morales, Naresh Ramnani, Jacques Zailcita, Martin Fernandez, Gerrald Regino, Amparo Lim, Jeanette Villanueva, Sandy Prieto, and Head Coach Mr. Nelson Asuncion.
In this same year, the Philippines clinched the first girls’ team trophy at “The Asian Youth Invitational Championships” in Hong Kong. Girls’ team composed of Valle Verde youth players namely Amparo Lim, Alexandra Prieto, Jeanette Villanueva and Irene Viola. (July 23 – 31)
On November 14-21,1986, the first Asian Youth Badminton Invitational Tournament hosted locally and staged at the Valle Verde Country Club was officially opened by Gen. Fidel V. Ramos then President of Philippine Badminton Association (PBA). (This was historic in the sense that it is the first sport that brought China and Taipei badminton players in one tournament, with other participants Hong Kong and three Philippine Teams). It has a team and an individual events
1992 Ms. Erika Von Heiland a VVBYT player qualified for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Spain. Unfortunately, she moved and represented the U.S. that year.
In 1995, the 1st Amelita “Ming” Ramos Foreign Invitational Badminton Tournament was organized by Valle Verde Country Club in cooperation with the Filipino-Chinese Amateur Athletic Federartion (FCAAF), having 27 local and international teams/clubs participating in it & a total of 490 entries. (February 1-5, 1995).
May 6-13,1995 Arafura Sports Festival – Darwin, Australia. RP Team presented by Valle Verde Badminton Team have won four (4) Gold, three (3) Silver and two (2) Bronze medals. All players attributed the victory to the support of First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos, the new Philippine Badminton Association president then.
On September 2-6, 1996 Australian International Badminton Championships held in Perth was where Amparo Lim and Kennie Asuncion won a gold medal for the ladies doubles and Amparo, a bronze medals in singles.
In the 1996 the official Philippine delegate to the Atlanta Olympics was Amparo Lim player and her coach Nelson Asuncion who was also the National Team Head Coach then. They represented the country at the Atlanta Games.
In 1997, the Asian Junior Badminton Championships (AJBC), held in Manila from April 7 to 13 saw the potential of Kennevic “Vic” Asuncion who reached the quarter-finals but eventually lost to rising star Taufik Hidayat (Indonesia) 8 -15, 15 -7, 4–15
In the 1997 three-star Vietnam Open (IBF star event), Amparo Lim and Kennie Asuncion were the first Philippine entry (women’s doubles) to reach the quarterfinals.
In this same year, the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games – Jakarta Amparo Lim and Kennie Asuncion won the first bronze medal in the individual event of the womens doubles. (October 12 – 18, 1997)
Moreover, it needs to be highlighted that in this 19th SEA Games– Jakarta, the Philippines won its first and only team victory over an original ASEAN country till this year 2012. Philippines upset Singapore, 3-2, in the men’s team event and clinched second runner-up in the men’s team event. Team members were: Melvin Llanes, Ian Piencenaves, Kennevic “Vic” Asuncion, Jaime Llanes, Arolas Amahit, Rhamir Antonio, and ad hoc (ad hoc meant, players being invited to join the team though they were not officially in the national team at that time) team players Anthony Ave and Naresh Ramnani. Head Coach Nelson Asuncion assistant coaches Jojo Mance Jr. and Frederico Ferrer. (October 12 – 18)
In 2000, a first badminton tournament was held inside a Mall (Glorietta) with badminton clinic and fun games in the morning. Tournament started one pm to eight pm in the evening. This was the brainchild of coach Nelson Asuncion to bring badminton closer to the people, a strategic way of promoting the sport. Thanks to celebrity Richard Gomez & Rod Nepomuceno (IMG) and the sponsor Sustagen Premium which eventually became JVC in 2001- 2006.
In the 2001 Bangkok Open, Kennevic “VIC” Asuncion became the first bronze medalist in the men’s singles and mixed doubles.
In 2002, Kennevic “Vic” Asuncion garnered the first silver medal for the Philippines on the 11th Asian University Games for the men’s singles individual event held at the Ateneo de Manila University.
Furthermore, the 2002 Canadian Open in Vancouver, British Columbia, Vic and Kennie Asuncion were the first bronze medalists in both men’s singles and mixed doubles events.
The next stop was the 2002 US Open in Orange County, California, Kennie Asuncion and Amparo Lim took the first bronze medal for the Philippines in the women’s doubles event.
In 2003, Vic and Kennie Asuncion were the FIRST Philippine team members to qualify and participate in both men’s singles and mixed doubles individual events at the 13th World Championships in Birmingham, England. In singles Kennevic was able to pull off an upset victory over English Andrew Smith ranked 37 then which gave Vic a round of 16 finish.
In the 22nd Southeast Asian Games ( 2003 Sea Games) in Vietnam, the Asuncion sibling won another bronze medal for the country (December 6 – 12).