MVP CUP SECOND DAY - Europe cuts Asia lead, 4-5

Matches today 4 p.m. - Mixed Doubles (Kennie-Kennevic Asuncion vs Thomas Laybourn-Kamilla Rytter-Juhl

-- Ladies Singles (Captain's Choice)
-- Men's Singles (Captain's Choice)

MANILA - Europe bounced back from an opening day setback by beating Asia, 4-2, yesterday to send the MVP Cup Asia vs Europe 2 into a wide-open battle for badminton supremacy at the Araneta Coliseum.

Just when everybody thought it would be another Asia romp after its sweep of the first three matches Friday, the Europeans sprang back to life on Denmark's world No. 4 Kenneth Jonassen's stirring 21-17, 17-21, 21-12 victory over reigning Olympic and world champion Taufik Hidayat in the second men's singles match worth two points.

With its ladies doubles team of Gail Emms and Donna Kellogg, the world No. 4, stamping its class over Thailand's Saralee Thungthongkam and Sathinee Chankrachangwong for a 21-8, 21-15 rout, Europe struck back to within one point, 4-5, in this $100,000 Ryder Cup format event between two of the world's top badminton continents.

Earlier, Hong Kong ace Wang Chen repulsed Mia Audina Tjiptawan of the Netherlands, 13-21, 21-14, 21-12, to give Asia a 5-0 lead, counting its three points in the first day of action.

"I had some problems with the wind (draft) but I'd say Taufik was not at his best," said the 32-year-old Jonassen, actually way ahead over Hidayat's (no. 23) in the world ranking but not in talent, skills and charisma.

But Jonassen, who has never beaten Hidayat in four earlier faceoffs, proved a tough nut to crack this time, making use of his towering 6-foot-2 frame to cover the court and hit those booming smashes that either landed right in front or on the side of Hidayat or which the Indon ace simply failed to return.

Action is expected to reach fever pitch in the final day today with three matches to decide the tie that has caught the fancy of world badminton, including the mixed doubles featuring local bets Kennie and Kennivic Asuncion, who will be facing world No. 10 Thomas Laybour and Kamilla Rytter-Juhl of Denmark.

The Asuncions, enjoying top form following victories in ranking tournaments in Australia and New Zealand and an impressive runner-up finish in the recent Philippine Open, a four-star event, are now ranked No. 21 in the world, their highest-ever, but are expected to face a tall order against the talented pair of rivals, who beat them in their first and only match at the All-England Open.

But what adds thrill to the already exciting duel are the last pair of singles matches, the composition of which is kept under wraps until the games although coaches of both camps are sure to field in their best players for the vital points.

Today's matches are worth three points each, thus making each game truly crucial. The winning team will get $60,000 and the loser $40,000. For details, visit www.mypad.net/mvpcup2006.

Jonassen, who had only week to prepare for this tournament, pounced on Hidayat's lackluster game in the deciding set, picking up points as easy as he could return Hidayat's shots and racing to leads of as many as 11-4 and 20-8. Though Hidayat racked up four straight points to fire up the big weekend crowd, Jonassen easily wrapped up the match when the former's forehand crosscourt return went wide.

For a while, Tjiptawan, who has won or finished second in 24 tournaments in a 10-year career, appeared to have gotten the number of Wang, who seemed tentative with her shots and groping for form. But after dropping the first set and trailing in the early going of the first set, Wang, the world No. 5, rattled off four straight points to force a 10-all deadlock in the second, fell behind again by two but quickly seized control with taking five of the next six points.

From a 15-13 lead, Wang started to make full use of her longer reach, unleashing a variety of shots to score while holding her rival to a single point the rest of the way.

"I had a hard time adjusting (on the court) because it was a bit windy in my side," said the 30-year-old Wang through an interpreter. She added that she didn't train much for the $100,000 event But it hardly showed as Wang was simply awesome, particularly in the deciding set where she completely outplayed Tjiptawan with her power game that was somewhat aided by her Dutch rival's erratic finish.

The Asians swept their continental rivals, 3-0, in the first day Friday on victories by Lin Dan over Niels Kaldau and Zhang Ning over Yao Jie in the singles and Lee Wan Wah-Choong Tan Fook over Robert Blair-Robert Mateusiak in the men's doubles.

The event, sponsored by PLDTmyDSL and Smart, is backed by JVC, Nokia, Snickers Chocolates, Information Gateway, The Philippine Star, Toby's Sports, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yonex-Sunrise, Discovery Suites, California Pizza Kitchen and Gatorade.

Hostilities in the second day of action start at 4 p.m. with ticket prices pegged at P300, P500, P750 and P1,000. Tickets are available at all Ticketnet outlets and at the Araneta Coliseum ticket booth.