KUWAIT CITY, Jan 13: Bamboozling smashes and cross court drop shots were the norm on the opening day of Filipino Badminton Club in Kuwait (FILBACK) Inter-Commercial League 2010 at the Handball Gym in Kazma Sports Complex, Adailiya, Friday.
There was no formal opening as all the FILBACK members went into action as they had missed sweating for sometime because of the over three-week break due to the celebration of Christmas and the New Year holiday.
And so to stop any wastage of time, it was decided by FILBACK Founding Chairman Caloy Abesamis, FILBACK Director Leo Regner and FILBACK Tournament Director Ed Buensuceso along with all the members to proceed with the regular games.
Meanwhile, the FILBACK Technical Committee decided to continue to applying the same format they used recently to ensure quality matches and give an equal chance to all the players by using an accumulated scoring system and rotating players to make sure all the matches were of the same level.
Participants were divided into 6 groups composed of Men’s O, A, B and C along with Ladies B & C. This group was classified with the higher class players and paired with lower category contenders. Each pair needed to complete a maximum of 9 games, have a different partner in each match to earn the maximum number of points which would be the final basis of the standings.

Every point secured in each game is carried over and accumulated with the result of the next game and these points are then used as the qualifying criteria in the selection of pairs to compete in the knock-out championship round. However, there’s a catch in this mode of play because if the pair pulls off victory in 2 sets they will automatically earn plus 8 points for a total of 50 points but if the player is absent and the game is played by the joker (substitute), only 20 points will be given to the player whereas if the missing player’s game results in a loss, the lower points are carried over to the next match.
In the championship finals, top qualifiers in the higher category are permanently paired with the top qualifiers in the lower category and then the total of both the players are taken into consideration to work out the ranking.
On the other hand, individuals seated low in the standings still have a chance to continue until the very end of the elimination round since a knock out game is provided to collect the top 8 players and trim the line through knock out round-robin games to come up with the best 3 pairs in the championship finals.
There were number of players who stood out in this week’s competition after the initial rounds since most of them played more matches than some of the other players. And since the organizers expect to have more players on the courts next week after they return from their holiday no one is assured of retaining their positions.
In Men’s O Higher and Lower event Jabbar Farooqi gained 141 points while Nestor Matondo collected 122 points, Men’s A Higher and Lower leaders were Michael del Pilar with 184 points while Ed Buensuceso has 130 points, Men’s B Higher and Lower class leaders was Jess Sibunga Jr as he gathered 142 points while Rey Lubaton gained 150 points, Cesar Isidro was in control of Men’s Higher C with 184 points and Butch Bagahansol led Lower C with 140 points.
On the other hand, Mercy Joy Villanueva and Cherrylou Nicolas shared the top spot with 100 points in Ladies Higher B while Lyn Pascua controlled Lower B with 100 points, in Ladies C Higher and Lower Rosita Arroyo had 118 points and Helda Morales totaled 114 points.
Men’s O
Men’s O saw the tandem of Chandra Maouli and Olan Patriarca overwhelm Dr Manimara “Doc Mani” Chozhan 21-19, 21-16, Faheem Contractor and Amith Balakrishnan outlasted Pushkaraj Altekar and Mohammad Nadeem when they put their best foot forward in the last 2 sets to win 21-23, 21-15, 21-18, Supul and Noor outclassed Shibi and Sumesh although they seemed to be warming up in the initial set but moved up a gear in the final 2 sets to win 15-21, 21-9, 21-12, Jabbar Farooqi and Anil Lakhotia tamed Mathew Jacob and James in 2 easy sets 21-10, 21-17, Doc Mani and Amith Balakrishnan worked hand in hand and edged Pushkaraj Altekar 21-14, 21-23, 21-16, Faheem Contractor and Anil were made to sweat for every point to outlast Mathew Jacob and Sumesh in an extended 3-set play 12-21, 21-17, 24-22, Chandra Maouli and Ravi showed some real class and managed to edge Jabbar Farooqi and James 21-18, 11-21, 22-21 while Jabbar Farooqi and Nestor Matondo appeared to be in a hurry and routed Pushkaraj Altekar and Ravi Shankar 21-16, 21-19.
Men’s A
In Men’s A,  newcomer Vijay and Harinath tamed Ramil Cadano and Donald Briones 21-9, 21-18, Michael de Pilar and Chan Basha Shaik put their best foot forward and outlasted Francis Enriquez and Ed Buensuceso 18-21, 21-16, 21-18, FILBACK Director Leo Regner and Nestor Farinas blended well on the courts and edged Richard Amoto and Ray Allan Sayoto in 3 extended sets 20-22, 21-19, 22-20.
Francis Enriquez and Donald Briones outclassed Vijay and Edison dela Cruz 16-21, 21-17, 21-18, it was not easy for Michael del Pilar and Ed Buensuceso to edge Ramil Cadano and Harinath Gadikota 21-18, 15-21, 22-20, the tandem of Leo Regner and Roy Satorre edgd Francis Enriquez and Edison dela Cruz 14-21, 21-18, 21-18.
Richard Amoto and Chan Basha Shaik pressed on the accelerator to edge Vijay and Ray Allan Sayoto 19-21, 25-23, 21-10, Michael del Pilar and Roy Satorre broke no sweat to beat Ramil Cadano and Nestor Farinas 21-9, 21-19, Michael del Pilar and Nestor Farinas brushed aside Leo Regner and Harinath Gadikota 21-16, 21-14 and Richard Amoto and Ed Buensuceso hammered Ramil Cadano and Ray Allan Sayoto 21-9, 21-16.
Men’s B
The Men’s B event witnessed Rasheed and Joel Aguirre thrash Robert Gubat and Leandro in back to back sets 21-13, 21-13, Jess Sibunga Jr and Romeo Derequito thumped Kannan and Rafiq 21-8, 21-16, Bernard Balungaya and Sid Ladia outclassed Robert Gubat and Roger Jimenez 19-21, 21-17, 21-15, James Briones and Rey Lubaton hammered newcomers Rasheed and Ambali 21-8, 21-15, Jess Sibunga Jr and Sid Ladia overpowered Bernard Balungaya and Marianne Salunga 21-11, 21-12.
Rey “Smokey” Orje and Renato Calanog overcame “FILBACK Daddy” Caloy Abesamis and Marc Arroyo 23-21, 21-12, Jonathan Munalem and Norman Calina outlasted Caloy Abesamis and Joel Aguirre in a seesaw battle 16-21, 21-18, 25-23, Ross Uson and Renato Calanog crushed Kannan and Romeo Derequito in back to back sets 21-14, 21-14, Ross Uson and Rey Lubaton overwhelmed Alfred Magcanam and Leandro de Jesus 21-17, 21-15.
Jonathan Munalem and Marianne Salunga did not go home empty handed when they brushed aside James Briones and Norman Calina 21-18, 21-14, Rey Orje and Roger Jimenez overwhelmed Alfred Magcanam and Rafiq 21-9, 21-12, Robert Gubat and Rey Lubaton had exerted any effort to tame Arnold Abordo and Ambali in 2 sets 21-11, 21-10, Jess Sibunga Jr and Renato Calanog outclassed James Briones and Romeo Derequito 18-21, 21-15, 21-11, Arnold Abordo and Marc Arroyo overcame Caloy Abesamis and John Rubin 25-23, 21-17 and Jonathan Munalem and Joel Aguirre played well to brush aside Alfred Magcanam and Roger Jimenez 21-18, 21-17.
Men’s C
Men’s C category saw Gomer Imperial and W.P. Asela show their skills and overpower Arnel Miguel and C.S. Priyadh 21-13, 21-18, Rey Quedeng and Romeo Tribulano blended well on the courts and overwhelmed Jeth Adlawan and Juan Tejada 21-18, 21-17, the tandem of Srinivas and W.P. Asela hammered Cesar Castro and John Bruce 21-9, 21-18, Paul Lozano and Beck Beck Orje made a strong pair and brushed aside Mahesh and Joy Gomez in 2 easy sets 21-16, 21-12.
Cesar Isidro and John Bruce bounced back and outlasted Sunny Rae Lascuna and Beth Buensuceso in a seesaw battle 21-19, 17-21, 21-19, Gomer Imperial and Butch Bagahansol thrashed W.P. Asela and C.S. Priyadh in back to back sets 21-12, 21-12, Jeth Adlawan and Daisy Balungaya were made to sweat before they outlasted Srinivas and Elsie Valenzuela 15-21, 21-19, 21-15, Rey Quedeng and Beck Beck Orje put their heads together and edged Paul Lozano and Beth Buensuceso in a seesaw battle 21-19, 17-21, 21-19.
Sunny Rae Lascuna and Joy Gomez overwhelmed Glen Piliotas and Romeo Tribulano in back to back sets 21-19, 21-19, the tandem of Cesar Castro and Daisy Balungaya brushed aside Mahesh and Elsie Valenzuela 21-9, 21-20, Alex Tirona and Kristina Quipse edged Arnel Miguel and Analyn Abides 6-21, 21-13, 21-18, Cesar Isidro and Raffy Ilejay thumped Glen Piliotas and Juan Tejada 21-13, 21-16.
Sunny Rae Lascuna and Kristina Quipse blended well on the courts and wasted no time to beat Glen Pillotas and Analyn Abides 21-19, 21-14, Cesar Isidro and Butch Bagahansol thrashed Rey Quedeng and Raffy Ilejay 21-7, 21-12 and Cesar Isidro remained unbeaten run when he played with Romeo Tribulano outclassed Cesar Castro and Butch Bagahansol 15-21, 21-19, 21-19.
Ladies B
In Ladies B,  Mercy Joy Villanueva and Biberly Malvar overcame Aileen Zoreta and Grace Daulo 22-20, 21-16, Cherrylou Nicolas and Lourdes Orbase thumped Norma Guillermo and Regina Casano 21-16, 21-17, Lyn Roca and Lyn Pascua hammered Laura Baldemor and Paz Carlos 21-9, 21-12, Cherrylou Nicolas and Regina Casano tamed Meliza Titong and Ruby Rose Miranda 21-18, 21-17, Aileen Zoreta and Lyn Pascual brushed aside Norma Guillermo and Grace Daulo 21-15, 21-14, Mercy Joy Villanueva and Paz Carlos hammered Laura Baldemor and Lourdes Orbase 21-15, 21-11, and Meliza Titong and Biberly Malvar outclassed Lyn Roca and Ruby Rose Miranda 21-15, 12-21, 21-8.
Ladies C
Ladies C class saw a vast improvement among beginners who are now playing at a higher level including Jeves Cruz and Helda Morales who overcame Cristina Baylon and Maybelle Latosa 21-13, 21-18, while Rosita Arroyo and Malou Lubaton wasted no time to thrash Vanessa Hinolan and Elma Raguindin 21-10, 21-6, Cheryl Manaytay and Rosalie Galvez crushed Bebsy Briones and Helda Morales 21-12, 21-13.
Maribeth Santua and Vanessa Hinolan bounced back as they hammered newcomers Cristina Baylon and Elma Raguindin 21-9, 21-10, Cheryl Manaytay and Maybelle Latosa overwhelmed Jeves Cruz and Chato Guillermo 21-12, 21-19, Vhennie Ilejay and Rosita Arroyo overcame Bebsy Briones and Malou Lubaton 21-19, 22-20.

Jazella Ilejay and Rosalie Galvez outclassed Chato Guillermo and Maribeth Santua 21-18, 20-22, 21-8, Vhenie Ilejay and Venus Paquizasel thrashed Rosita Arroyo and Janet Gravador in back to back sets 21-9, 21-9, and the girl power of Joan Ilejay and Venus Paquizasel outclassed Cristina Baylon and Helda Morales 12-21, 21-18, 21-17.
FILBACK organizers would like to thank Khalid Sharif of Dollarco Exchange Co Ltd,  Vic Pine of APO-Beta Chi, Mike Servo of Charley’s Grilled Sub, Noel Amador from APO-Gamma Epsilon, Edwin Marco of Popeye’s Chicken and Subs, Reggie Ramos of APO XI, Greg Blanco and John Bruce of AMEC Oil and Gas Company, Darwin Gonzales APO Eta Mu Chapter, Tammy Solaiman, Shivy Bhasin from Bhasin Company, Caloy Abesamis from APO-Upsilon, Nico Contreras from APO Beta-Tau and Nelson Santiago from APO-PSI Chapter and Vhennie Ilejay from United Interactive General Trading (UIGT).