The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
BingoPlus, having been a big supporter of the Philippine sports community, brought Filipino dreamers closer to their sports dream. Last October 15, Future Ace candidates had a world-class experience when they played with international and local professional golfers at the Asian Development Tour set to determine the final top three who will advance to the Future Ace Program.
The Asian Development Tour (ADT) is all about making a significant impact as it returns to the Philippines, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and known as the pathway for players to have a chance to join the Pro-Am competition hosted by International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus. The development tour is held to drive growth and create opportunities for both professional and amateur players.
The importance of partnerships in elevating the Asian Development Tour with BingoPlus and the International Series in the Philippines
“It’s great to have such a strong partner on board,” says Ken Kudo, the General Manager of ADT, who thanked the strong partnering collaboration between BingoPlus and the International Series and sees it as a game-changer to have brands come together for the tour. The collaboration between BingoPlus, the International Series, and the ADT has enabled the tour to increase the prize purse by 20%, raising it to $120,000, and add extra value with additional services such as a buffet lunch for players after the game, enhancing the overall tournament experience and giving importance to the commitment of BingoPlus and the BingoPlus Foundation in supporting not just the competition but also the well-being of the athletes.
“It’s a very nice and well prepared na event by BingoPlus since sila yung presentor nito. Well organized kasi very planned lahat from transportation yung tee times namin on-time, and yeah, I think they did a really good job sa event na to,” said Diego Salazar, a Future Ace candidate.
When asked about the role of partnerships, Kudo says ”It’s everything, these partnerships are imperative for any event, to have partners that believe in the sport and believe in promoting the country from the eyeballs the events get and also growing the game. So without the partners, like BingoPlus and the BingoPlus Foundation, you wouldn’t be able to stage any events.”
The ADT Players Championship was played by a mix of key opinion leaders, influencers, professionals, and amateurs, all in preparation for the upcoming inaugural Pro-Am competition.
“It’s really pleasant to be here for a change and to showcase the Philippines to our members,” Kudo adds, with hopes for future events and continued development of the sport in the country.
Better opportunities
As talented Filipino golfers grew in number, the brand saw the possibility and created the Future Ace program to further strengthen the path of aspiring Filipino golfers closer to their dream. Last month BingoPlus picked 20 people who registered for the program, of whom the final three will be given a ₱200,000 training fund, ₱100,000 worth of golf equipment, and an opportunity to play with international players.
The brand aims to help and aid the future of golf in the country. In an interview with Ryan Tanco, a Future Ace participant said that this program will be of enormous help to other people, especially since golf is relatively pricey compared to other sports in the country. “It’s a good program that can help a lot of people because there’s a lot of people who in similar minds can’t really get into the sport in the sense that they can’t justify the expense of the equipment.”
Laeticia Lacerna, also a Future Ace participant, exclaimed how being able to see and play with professional golfers can help them improve and become better at the sport. “Being exposed to people or professionals and see how they play could help us with how we could be better at the sport, like we could learn from them based on experience.”
Future Ace Program’s final top three
After the 5-day social media voting and a series of golf activities held to determine the final top three, Diego Salazar, Sherra Gross, and Lea Macapagal secured the spots for the Future Ace program. Three of them showcased skills comparable to pro golfers that played with them side by side.
It’s a dream come true for them who looked forward to being included in the program. Diego said that this would help his game become more refined and controlled and give his career a chance to go even further. “I’ve been golfing for about two years na. I didn’t stop sa two years na yun, and I do think na with the help of coaching it could guide my game toward a more refined and controlled performance, especially 200K yung training budget. I think that would be very sufficient na for a really good and high-quality training.”
Lea also expressed how happy she was when she first heard that BingoPlus and the International Series would be hosting an event as grand as this. “I’m so happy when I’ve seen the post about the International Series and BingoPlus hosting this, because golf means so much for the Philippines,” “I feel like there’s so many talented Filipinos who play golf. It’s just that they need someone who would boost them; they need something like BingoPlus to actually help them,” she added.
In addition, BingoPlus extends the program to the final top five as the brand’s dedication to the Philippine sports community. Joan Guitierrez, who placed 4th, and Ethelenne Cinio, who placed 5th, will each receive ₱50,000 worth of training budget.
While the Future Ace Program comes to an end, BingoPlus’ advocacy to help the Filipinos reach their dream starts anew. Rest assured that the brand will continue to develop more and better programs in the future.
The International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus will have a four-day tournament on October 23-26. Watch golf legends play on October 23 and 24 for free. Get your tickets at SM Tickets online, and watch Filipino sports dreams turn into reality.
DigiPlus Interactive Corp. pioneered digital entertainment in the Philippines. It introduced leading platforms BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone, widely known for their engaging experiences in interactive gaming and sports entertainment. For more information, visit: www.digiplus.com.ph.