KUWAIT CITY, Aug 18: The Filipino Badminton Club in Kuwait (FILBACK) took a break from their regular venue but there was no holding back the players as non-stop action continued at a new venue — the Al Salam Garden — Friday evening when FILBACK Founding Chairman Caloy Abesamis and FILBACK Tournament Director Renato Calanog along with their office bearers came up with a 2-day “FILBACK Fun Game”. The FILBACK Technical Committee decided to hold the tournament on a double-round robin format in two categories — Men’s and Ladies, with the players of the Higher and Lower classes mixed due to the limited number of courts available in the garden. The matches started with the elimination round, after which the top 8 pairs in both categories will moved on to the next level in which players from the Higher Class were to draw lots from the Lower category for their permanent partners for the semi-final and championship rounds.

With the initial rounds completed, the semi-final and championship have been scheduled for Friday, 20th August, at the same arena from 1900 hours onwards. With this initial tournament in its final stages, the organizers have announced that interested individuals are still welcome to join the coming tournament since they have plans of continuing this “Fun Game” over the next two Fridays, Aug 27 and 30, at the same venue.

Men’s section
The winner versus winner elimination round witnessed the power of Singles Open Champion Nestor Matondo when he with Frank James brushed aside Jess Sibunga and Val Canicosa 21-13, 21-19 while Rey Lubaton and Rico overcame Ed Buensuceso and Marlon Soriano 21-14, 21-19, Caloy Abesamis and Ed Buensuceso outlasted Renato Calanog and George Burgos 21-15, 16-21, 21-17 and the tandem of Leandro de Jesus and Renato Niegas thumped Nestor Matondo (joker) and Rafik 21-18, 21-14.
The conditions were windy and the lights were dim as the tournament was held under the light of the lamp posts with not much help from the moon as it had just started to form but all these conditions in the garden, which is more suited to holding picnics, could not stop the players from displaying their class. Although the stress was on the word “fun”, players were serious when they took to the courts and they played to win.

The best match of the day saw Abesamis and Buensuceso at their best as they took the first set against Calanog and Burgos easily, giving away only 15 points but they were in for a surprise in the next set as Calanog and Burgos fought back brilliantly to take the game and level the match as it moved into a deciding third set.
The third set was very closely fought but the power and skills of Abesamis and Buensuceso was too much for their rivals who surrendered after taking only 17 points to give away the match.
Meanwhile, the non-winners elimination round saw Ronald Brizuela and Allysa Tagate overpower Albert Naguit and Mark 21-14, 21-10 while Rey Quedeng and Marlon Soriano tamed Rey Orje and Majed 21-17, 21-17 and Richard Amoto (joker) and Francisco outlasted Billy Ramos and Jhune Banzon 21-12, 15-21, 21-15.

In this section also the last game stretched to three sets with Amoto and Francisco easily winning the first set but going down in a similar way in the second before showing their power again to take the third set and with it the match.
Earlier in the initial stages of the elimination round, Richard Amoto and Rico edge Billy Ramos and Rey Orje 19-21, 21-17, 21-17, while Nestor Matondo and Renato Niegas were made to sweat before they could outlast Nestor Farinas and Albert Naguit 21-18, 15-21, 21-16, Rey Lubaton and Val Canicosa overwhelmed Ronald Brizuela and Mark 21-17, 21-13, Jess Sibunga and Frank James edged Rey Quedeng and Majeed in a seesaw battle 21-16, 10-21, 21-17, Leandro de Jesus and George Burgos outlasted Renato Calanog and Jhune Banzon 21-19, 19-21, 21-17, Caloy Abesamis and Richard Amoto hammered Rey Quedeng (joker) and Ronald Brizuela (joker) in back to back sets 21-17, 21-17 and Rafik with Francisco outlasted Billy Ramos (joker) and Ricky 21-19, 18-21, 21-15.

Winners Standings
Rank Players Cat W L Total
Points
1 Rey Lubaton H 2 0 100
2 Richard Amoto H 2 0 92
3 Nestor Motondo H 2 0 92
4 Caloy Abesamis H 2 0 92
5 Leandro DeJesus H 2 0 92
6 Frank James L 2 0 92
7 Renato Niegas L 2 0 92
8 Rico L 2 0 92
9 Francisco L 2 0 84

Non-Winners Standings
Rank Players Cat W L Total
Points
1 Rey Quedeng L 1 1 88
2 Marlon Soriano H 1 1 83
3 Val Canicosa L 1 1 82
4 Alyssa Tagate H 1 1 81
5 George Burgos L 1 1 80
6 Ronald Brizuela L 1 1 80
7 Ed Buensuceso H 1 1 75
8 Jess Sibunga H 1 1 74
9 Rafik H 1 1 74
10 Renato Calanog H 0 2 76
11 Billy Ramos H 0 2 74
12 Jun Banzon L 0 2 74
13 Majeed L 0 2 72
14 Rey Orje H 0 2 72
15 Mark L 0 2 54
16 Nestor Farinas H 0 1 37

Ladies
There were a limited number of contenders in the Ladies category as the arrangements for the event were made quite late and most of them could not be informed in time. Some individuals who have kept themselves updated through Facebook were, however, able to join the quest.
The games proper saw the tandem of Cherryl Manaytay and Lyn Pascua outlast Ayie Buenaventura and Mary Grace Calungsod in a seesaw battle 21-12, 16-21, 21-15, while Chato Guillermo and Beth Buensuceso edged Alyssa Tagate and Elibeth Mendoza 21-13, 14-21, 21-10, Ayie Buenaventura and Mary Grace Calungsod bounced back against Rosalie Galvez and Frenel Gene Parcia 18-21, 21-9, 21-15 and Cherryl Manaytay with Charito Guillermo overcame Beth Buensuceso and Lyn Pascua in an extended 2-set play 21-12, 22-20.

Ladies Initial Standings
Rank Players W L Total
Points
1 Cherryl Manaytay 2 0 92
2 Chato Guillermo 2 0 92
3 Ayie Buenaventura 1 1 78
4 Mary Grace Calungsod 1 1 78
5 Betchai Buensuceso 1 1 74
6 Lyn Pascua 1 1 74
8 Elibeth Mendoza 0 1 31
9 Rosalie Galvez 0 1 24
10 Frenel Gene Parcia 0 1 24
With the tournament having entered the semifinal stage a lot of exciting matches are on the cards on the coming Friday. The added attraction in this tournament sees the players helping themselves to some delicious food on the sidelines.