KUWAIT CITY, Aug. 4:Eureka walked home with the top honors while AMEC Co. finished 1st runners-up in the “FILBACK 5th Anniversary Cup” – organized by Filipino Badminton Club in Kuwait (FILBACK), the pioneer badminton association in the country — at the Handball Gym of Kazma Sports Complex in Adailiya, Friday.
This event would not be a success without the guidance of FILBACK Founding Chairman Caloy Abesamis, who got a lot of backing from FILBACK Director Leo Regner, FILBACK Tournament Director Ed Buensuceso, the organization’s committed office-bearers and Alpha Phi Omega Kuwait Alumni Association (APO KAA-153).
The FILBACK organizers have, meanwhile, announced that non-stop action will continue on Friday, August 6, at the same arena as a One-day Tournament has been scheduled to take place along with the recognition of the winners of the last two conferences — FILBACK-Eureka Cup and FILBACK 5th Anniversary Cup.
On the other hand, registration is now open for registration for the next tournament which is scheduled for Friday, 13th August, Friday, and is being called FILBACK “Hataw Na!”

Team Event
Eureka vs AMEC Co.
Eureka scored 11-7 points against AMEC Co. to take the title after Cathy Manzano and Rosalie Galvez beat Frenel Gene Parcia and Anna de Guino in 2 easy sets 21-8, 21-10, while Albert Naguit and Edison Gaspar hammered Juan Tejada III and John Saturnino 21-13, 21-15 and Mohammad Nadeem and Khristine de Jesus outlasted James Flores and Nestor Farinas in a seesaw battle 21-17, 11-21, 21-17.
AMEC Co. acquired their victories when Biberly Malvar and Cheryl Manaytay outlasted Lyn Roca and Mariecris Malilay 21-13, 13-21, 21-14, Jonnie Gratil and Betchai Buensuceso edged Alyssa Tagate and Romeo Longalong 21-19, 20-22, 21-15 and Roger Jimenez with Rey Lubaton outlasted Rasheed and Marianne 21-18, 18-21, 22-20.

Men’s A
In the championship finals, Mohammad Nadeem and Khristian de Jesus blended well on the courts and put in all their effort to clinch the title as they edged James Flores and Richard Amoto 21-17, 18-21, 21-19 while Edison dela Cruz and Roy Satorre outlasted Nestor Matondo and Ed Buensuceso in 3 sets 21-16, 18-21, 23-21 to finish 2nd runners-up.
Both matches were really close with Nadeem and De Jesus putting on an impressive performance in the first set but the score does not reflect how close the game really was as Flores and Amoto did not go down easily and put up a real fight. Not only that, Flores and Amoto fought back to overcome their opponents in the next set to level the match and force the match into a deciding set. The last set was the closest with the lead repeatedly changing hands before Nadeem and De Jesus showed that they had better nerves to win the set and with it the crown.
The other match played for the 2nd runners-up spot was also a very close affair, with the match played again in three sets.Dela Cruz and Satorre put on a power-packed display in the first set to win easily but they were not happy in the next set as Matondo and Buensuceso fought back valiantly and stunned their opponents to level the match and push it into a third deciding set. The third set was so close that it could have gone either way with both sides getting a lot of boost from their supporters. Both sides fought well, with the match going into an extension and nobody able to predict who would win. Finally, however, Dela Cruz and Satorre showed that they had very strong nerves to just edge their rivals who must be praised for the tremendous fight that they put up.
The semi-finals witnessed James Flores and Richard Amoto overwhelm Edison dela Cruz and Ray Satorre 21-11, 21-8 while Mohammad Nadeem paired with Khristian de Jesus fought wisely to edge Nestor Matondo and Ed Buensuceso 17-21, 21-14, 21-11.
In the quarterfinals, Edison dela Cruz and Roy Satorre broke no sweat when they brushed aside Elmer Domingo and Joker 21-12, 21-17 and the tandem of Nestor Matondo and Ed Buensuceso showed some real class to tame Leo Regner and Ray Allan Sayoto 21-15, 21-14.
Earlier in the knock out games, Elmer Domingo and Joker were made to sweat a lot when they pressed down hard on the accelerator in the last two sets to edge Nestor Farinas and Renato Calanog 16-21, 21-19, 21-18, while Leo Regner and Ray Allan Sayoto outlasted Donald Briones and Joker 21-15, 15-21, 21-15 in a seesaw battle. Jokers are players of the same level or lower who replace those participants who fail to turn up for their matches.

Men’s B
Rasheed and Marianne Salunga displayed a lot of wit and power when they fought for every point for the title as they edged Roger Jimenez and Joel Aguirre in 3 extended sets 20-22, 21-16, 21-19 while Barraq Al Adwani and Marc Arroyo overwhelmed Sid Ladia and Rey Lubaton 21-10, 21-13 for the 2nd runners-up spot.
Earlier, the semi-finals witnessed Rasheed and Marianne Salunga outlast Barraq Al Adwani and Marc Arroyo 21-17, 16-21, 21-16 while Roger Jimenez paired Joel Aguirre overpowered Sid Ladia and Rey Lubaton 21-18, 21-11.
In the quarterfinals, Barraq Al Adwani and Marc Arroyo were seen gasping for air when they were involved in a very tight fight to edge the good pair of Billy Ramos and Rey Orje 21-18, 10-21, 21-19 while Roger Jimenez and Joel Aguirre wasted no time to thump Jess Sibunga Jr. Joepet Matias 21-14, 21-17.
Earlier that day, in the knock out games, Billy Ramos and Rey Orje won by default against James Briones and Richard de Dios while Jess Sibunga Jr. and Joepet Matias outlasted Leandro de Jesus and Mohammad Rafiq 18-21, 23-21, 21-14.

Mixed Doubles
This was one of the most attended categories which saw Jonnie Gratil and Beth Buensuceso bag the title when they edged Alyssa Tagate and Romeo Longalong 21-19, 20-22, 21-15 while Marc Rivaca and Vicky Nonog finished 2nd runners-up when they overcame Cesar Isidro and Joy Gomez 21-13, 10-21, 21-10.
The semi-finals saw Jonnie Gratil and Beth Buensuceso waste no effort to thump Cesar Isidro and Joy Gomez 21-19, 21-16, while Alyssa Tagate and Romeo Longalong outlasted Marc Rivaca and Vicky Nonog 18-21, 21-13, 21-17.
In the quarter finals, Cesar Isidro and Joy Gomez were made to sweat when they edged Jet Adlawan and Beck Orje 16-21, 21-9, 21-16 while the tandem of Marc Rivaca and Vicky Nonog put in their best effort to outlast Rey Quedeng Elsie San Juan 16-21, 22-20, 21-19.
Earlier in the knock out matches, Gomer Imperial and Andrew Dalida edged Deck Abeasamis and Analyn Abides in a seesaw battle, winning 21-10, 20-22, 21-18, while Arnel Miguel and Kristina Quipse overpowered Sunnyrae Lascuna and Romeo Tribulano 21-18, 21-14, Cesar Isidro and Joy Gomez edged Rico Gabuyo and Joker 21-10, 12-21, 21-17, and Joshua Monunghol and Joker were made to sweat to edge Maebelle Abesamis and Butch Bagahansol 21-23, 21-13, 21-4.
The winners in the first phase competed their move to the next stage when Cesar Isidro and Joy Gomez crushed Gomer Imperial and Andrew Dalida 21-18, 21-14, Arnel Miguel and Kristina Quipse overcame Joshua Monunghol and Joker 23-21, 21-15, Cesar Isidro and Joy Gomez fought for every point to outlast Ronald Brizuela and Cherrylou Nicolas 21-17, 18-21, 25-24 and the tandem of Marc Rivaca and Vicky Nonog edged 10-21, 23-21, 22-20.

Men’s D
Albert Naguit and Edison Gaspar walked home with the crown in the Men’s D category when they fought wisely to edge Abdulatif and Joker in a seesaw battle 21-16, 17-21, 21-18, while Renato Niegas and Fritz dela Cruz hammered Juan Tejada III 21-18, 21-13 for the 2nd runners-up spot.
In the semi finals, Abdulatif and Joker edge Juan Tejada III and John Saturnino 19-21, 21-6, 21-18 while Albert Naguit and Edison Gaspar outlasted Renato Niegas and Fritz dela Cruz 12-21, 21-12, 21-10.
Earlier in the quarter finals, Renato Niegas and Fritz dela Cruz wasted no time to beat George Burgos and Val Canicosa 21-11, 21-14 while Abdulatif and Joker overcame Ejay de Leon and Cedric Isidro 24-22, 21-19.

Ladies B
The strong-willed pair of Biberly Malvar and Cheryl Manaytay clinched the title in Ladies B when they outlasted Lyn Roca and Mariecris Malilay 21-13, 13-21, 21-14 while Alethea and Helda Morales hardly broke sweat to walk home with 2nd runners-up award when they thumped Regina Casano and Amor Llenas in back to back sets 21-12, 21-12.
Earlier, Lyn Roca and Mariecris Malilay qualified for the finals when they edged Alethea Adana and Helda Morales 18-21, 21-16, 21-18 while Biberly Malvar and Cheryl Manaytay took Regina Casano and Amor Llenas to task with a 21-18, 18-21, 21-5 victory.
In the quarter finals, the girl power of Alethea Adana and Helda Morales thrashed Bea Rogero and Joker 21-8, 21-12 while Regina Castro and Amor Llenas overcame Melissa Titong and Joker 21-12, 22-20.
Earlier that day, in the knock out matches, Melissa Titong and Joker won twice when they brushed aside Abelyn Sayoto and Joker 21-19, 21-13 and then went on to outlast Jemelou Ramos and Marie Grace Calungsod 21-19, 8-21, 21-16 while Bea Rogero and Joker overcame Lyn Pascua and Joker 22-20, 21-18.

Ladies C
Ladies C champions Cathy Manzano and Rosalie Galvez showed their class when they clinched the crown in easy 2 sets against Ayi Buenaventura and Jeves Cruz 21-17, 21-11 while Chato Guillermo and Vanessa Hinolan finished 2nd runners-up when they edged Frenel Gene Parcia 16-21, 21-14, 21-11.
In the semi-final games, Ayi Buenaventura and Jeves Cruz fought wisely to edge Frenel Gene Parcia and Anna de Guino 21-14, 14-21, 21-12 while Cathy Manzano and Rosalie Galvez tamed Chato Guillermo and Vanessa Hinolan 21-13, 21-9.
The quarter-final games witnessed Ayi Buenaventura and Jeves Cruz overwhelm Maribeth Santua and Lei Mostaza 21-19, 21-16 while Chato Guillermo and Vanessa Hinolan thrashed Elibeth Mendoza and Joker 21-11, 21-5.
Earlier in the knock out matches, Maribeth Santua and Lei Mostaza blended well on the courts to thump Daffodil Titong and Joker 21-12, 21-13, while Geraldine Medina and Elibeth Mendoza won by default against Joy Sheryl Alicos and Joker and the tandem of Elibeth Mendoza and Joker edged Bebsy Briones and Irene Sanches 21-19, 20-22, 21-16.

Open Singles
One of the most recognized FILBACK officials Nestor Matondo proved that he is the premium player in singles event when completed victory in two extended sets to clinch the crown after being stretched to the limit by Richard Amoto before winning 22-20, 23-21.
FILBACK Tournament Director Ed Buensuceso walked home with 2nd runners-up spot when he brushed aside Roy Satorre in 2 back to back sets 15-13, 15-13.
Earlier in the semi finals, Nestor Matondo wasted no time to hammer Ed Buensuceso 15-5, 15-9 while Richard Amoto outlasted Roy Satorre 12-15, 15-8, 15-13.

Awards Recipients:
Major Sponsors Team Events:
1 Eureka Team Champions
2 Amec Co. 1st Runners Up
Men’s A Doubles:
1 Mohd. & Khristian De Champions
2 James & Richard 1st Runners Up
3 Edison Dela & Roy 2nd Runners Up
Men’s B Doubles:
1 Rasheed & Marriane Champions
2 Roger & Joel Aguirre 1st Runners Up
3 Barraq & Marc Arroyo 2nd Runners Up
Mixed Doubles:
1 Jonnie & Beth Champions
2 Alyssa & Romeo 1st Runners Up
3 Marc & Vicky Nonog 2nd Runners Up
Ladies B Doubles:
1 Biberly & Cheryl Champions
2 Lyn & Mariecris 1st Runners Up
3 Alethea & Helda 2nd Runners Up
Ladies C Doubles:
1 Cathy & Rosalie Champions
2 Ayi & Jeves Cruz 1st Runners Up
3 Chato & Vanessa 2nd Runners Up
Open Singles
1 Nestor Matondo Champion
2 Richard Amoto 1st Runner Up
3 Ed Buensuceso 2nd Runner Up
FILBACK organizers would like to thank Khaled Abden IT Manager of Eureka Trading Co. W.L.L., Greg Blanco and John Bruce of AMEC Oil and Gas Company, Vhennie Ilejay from United Interactive General Trading (UIGT), Subway Eat Fresh and Vangie Gernale of Western Union Money Transfer for their support in the success of the tournament.