By Jose Gabriel
Special to the Arab Times

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 12: The best way to honor people for their contribution to sports and the society is by naming tournaments after them and this exactly what happened this week when the pioneers of quality badminton matches in the country , Filipino Badminton Club in Kuwait (FILBACK) inaugurated a new tournament – Vivo Vidal Cup — to salute the Founding Father of Alpha Phi Omega Kuwait Alumni Association (APO KAA-153) and Philippine Labour Attache’ Atty. Vivo Vidal at an Arabic school in Riggae, Friday.
Besides honoring Vidal , the format of the tournament will see a lot of excellent players in action which will result in all the participants being put through a test of their skills and determination for victory.
This event would not have been possible without the tremendous efforts put in by FILBACK Founding Chairman Caloy Abesamis, Tournament Director Renato Calanog and their group of office bearers who are always available to organize fair and quality games besides providing fun for the members of the organization.
The tournament has been divided into 6 categories according to the experience of the participants with sponsors for each section as follows : Men’s A, Men’s B, Mixed Higher C, Mixed Lower C, Mixed Higher D and Mixed Lower D.
The Technical Committee has decided to mix the pairs in the elimination round and this is applicable to both Higher and Lower classes of each category with the sets being played for a running score of 21 points but if the pairs are tied on 20 points the tandem which collects the last winning point wins the set or game. A total of 50 points will be awarded to the pair which wins the game in two sets while the non-winning pair gets the total number of points it managed to score in the two sets . But in case the game concludes in 3 sets the winning pair is awarded 42 points while the non-winning pair receives 21 points (based on the set they won ) plus the points the collect in the last set .
After the scores have been tallied the top-most players in each class will be paired permanently according to their rankings with the top 8 pairs moving on to the quarterfinals with 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5. The four winners will then battle in the semis with 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 while the championship finals will see the two pairs winning in these matches battle for the crown .
Program
Hosted by APO KAA-153 President Noel Amador, the program started off with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem led by FILBACK office-bearer Albert Naguit followed closely by inspiring words from the man of the hour Labour Attache’ Atty. Vivo Vidal.
Donald Briones , one of FILBACK’s finest players and office-bearers — guided the Oath of Sportsmanship and with the Closing Remarks coming from Tournament Director Renato Calanog.
The competition was then officially opened with a ceremonial toss by Atty. Vivo Vidal and Tournament Director Renato Calanog.
Games proper
Men’s Higher A
In Men’s Higher A, Jess Sibunga and James Flores overwhelmed Michael del Pilar and Edison dela Cruz 21-14, 21-11, while Edison dela Cruz and Jess Sibunga outlasted James Flores and Michael del Pilar 14-21, 21-17, 21-18.
In the other matches , Richard Amoto and Edison dela Cruz edged Michael del Pilar and Nestor Matondo 15-21, 21-17, 21-15 and the tandem Richard Amoto and Nestor Matondo outlasted James Flores and Edison dela Cruz 11-21, 20-21, 21-17.
There was only one easy game in this category with all the others going to three sets as the participants put in their best on the first day of the tournament .
Men’s Lower A
In Men’s Lower A, Ed Buensuceso and Anno “Da General” Borbe outlasted Nestor Farinas and Mark Arroyo 14-21, 21-15, 21-19, while Donald Briones and Roger Jimenez tamed Mohammad Rafiq and Junie Gratil 21-15, 21-11. The other matches saw Mohammad Rafiq and Roger Jimenez edge Ed Buensuceso Mark Arroyo 21-20, 15-21, 21-18, Nato Calanog while Donald Briones outlasted Anno Borbe and Nestor Farinas 21-12, 10-21, 21-16 and the tandem of Junie Gratil and Roger Jimenez edged Mohammad Rafiq and Nato Calanog 18-21, 21-14, 21-18.
Men’s Higher B
In Men’s Higher B, newcomer Andoy de Jesus and Rey Lubaton thumped Rey Quedeng and Caloy “FILBACK Daddy” Abesamis 21-12, 21-19 while Sid Ladia and Roy Satorre outlasted Andoy de Jesus and Rey Quedeng 21-16, 17-21, 21-19 and the tandem Roy Satorre and Rey Lubaton fought hard to overcome Sid Ladia and Caloy Abesamis in back to back sets 21-19, 21-19.
Men’s Lower B
In Men’s Lower B , John Rubin and Rene Anglita overwhelmed Amber Rubin and Vince Vidal 21-14, 21-16 while Gomer Imperial and Norman Calina outlasted Jett Adlawan and Arnold Abordo 18-21, 21-15, 21-19.
In the other games that day , Vince Vidal and Jett Adlawan hammered Arnold Abordo and John Rubin 21-17, 21-13, Mark Revaca and Vince Vidal brushed aside Amber Rubin and Jett Adlawan 21-16, 21-18, John Rubin and Gomer Imperial edged Rene Anglita and Norman Calina 21-12, 20-21, 21-19 and the tandem Amber Rubin and Mark Revaca overpowered Rene Anglita and Arnold Abordo 21-6, 21-18.
Mixed Higher C (H)
In Mixed Higher C (H), Beth Buensuceso and Dino Mendoza tamed Romeo Longalong and Majeed 21-15, 21-17 while Dino Mendoza and Majeed outlasted Beth Buensuceso and Romeo Longalong 12-21, 21-15, 21-15 and the tandem of Ronald Brizuela and Dino Mendoza edged Jaime Berjes and Arnel Miguel 21-20, 12-21, 21-16.
Mixed Higher C (L)
In Mixed Higher C (L), Butch Bagahansol and Brilly Lariosa outlasted George Burgos and Rico Gabuyo 21-18, 17-21, 21-19, while Butch Bagahansol and George Burgos wasted no sweat to beat new comer Ramil Ensomo and Andrew Dalida 21-11, 21-14, Rico Gabuyo and Andrew Dalida hammered Rowel Antonio and Brilly Lariosa 21-14, 21-19, Brilly Lariosa and George Burgos thumped Butch Bagahansol and Ramil Ensomo 21-15, 21-18 and the tandem of Andrew Dalida and Butch Bagahansol tamed Brilly Lariosa and Ramil Ensomo 21-12, 21-16.
Mixed Lower C (H)
In Mixed Lower C (H), the girl power of Cherryl Manaytay and Len Vidal outlasted Albert Naguit and Edison Gaspar 10-21, 21-15, 21-13 while Len Vidal and Edison Gaspar edged Chato Guillermo and Albert Naguit 21-16, 19-21, 21-8 and Len Vidal and Ashar brushed aside Chato Guillermo and Cherryl Manaytay 21-19, 21-18.
Mixed Lower C (L)
In Mixed Lower C (L), Danny Quindoza and newcomer Reem Suzain overcame Rosalie Galvez and Anna de Guino 21-16, 21-20, while Anna de Guino and Danny Quindoza edged Val Canicosa and new comer Samah 19-21, 21-7, 21-19.
There were many more players in action in this category with Samah and Anna de Guino thumping Danny Quindoza and Val Canicosa 21-15, 21-5, while Marie Grace Calungsod and Reem Suzain overwhelmed Faye Guzman and Val Canicosa 21-16, 21-11, Rosalie Galvez and Marie Grace Calungsod outlasted Faye Guzman and Reem Suzain 20-21, 21-11, 21-15, Samah and Rosalie Galvez edged Regina Casano and Marie Grace Calungsod 20-21, 21-12, 21-20 and the tandem of Faye Guzman and Danny Quindoza brushed aside Regina Casano and Anna de Guino 21-18, 21-16.

Mixed Higher D (H)
In Mixed Higher D (H), Christian Magsino and Romeo Trillanes tamed Jovy Vidal and Martin Vidal 21-14, 21-15, while Romeo Trillanes and Martin Vidal brushed aside Christian Magsino and Jovy Vidal 21-12, 21-17.
The other matches saw Ahmed and Jovy Vidal outlast William Recondo and Martin Vidal 20-21, 21-11, 21-16, while Ahmed and Joel dela Cruz overcame Raffy Ilejay and Troy Alvarado 21-10, 21-20, Joel dela Cruz and Troy Alvarado edged Ahmed and Raffy Ilejay 21-12, 11-21, 21-19 and the tandem of Troy Alvarado and Christian Magsino outlasted 19-21, 21-5, 21-13.

Mixed Higher D (L)
In Mixed Lower D (L), Dez Orbase and Ayi Buenaventura overwhelmed Elibeth Mendoza and Mayeen Abesamis 21-19, 21-20, while Ayi Buenaventura and Mayeen Abesamis brushed aside Elibeth Mendoza and Dez Orbase 21-14, 21-18 and the tandem of Ayi Buenaventura and Elibeth Mendoza thumped Mayeen Abesamis and Dez Orbase 21-19, 21-14.
Mixed Lower D (H)
In the Mixed Lower D (H) class, Jenna Rafael and May Comilang outlasted Leonor Laurito and Jing Maghirang 9-21, 21-15, 21-9, while Jeves Cruz and Delia del Pilar edged Shelou Delen and Mel Quedeng 18-21, 21-16, 21-19.

With this category seeing lots of action, Leonor Laurito and Jeves Cruz took to the courts to outlast Mhel Quedeng and Vhenie Ilejay 20-21, 21-15, 21-12, while Jenna Rafael and Jing Maghirang edged Shelou Delen and Delia del Pilar 21-15, 20-21, 21-8, the mother and daughter tandem of Vhenie and Joan Ilejay blended well on the courts to edge Malou Lubaton and Jazella Ilejay 21-12, 20-21, 21-14, Mel Quedeng and Malou Lubaton overcame the “Ilejay Sisters” Joan and Jazella 21-16, 21-20 and the pair of Leonor Laurito and Jenna Rafael hammered Jing Maghirang and Jeves Cruz 21-14, 21-18.

Mixed Lower D (L)
There were only three matches in the Mixed Lower D (L) which saw Liza Guillarte and Michelle de Felipe thrash newcomers Jessa Piol and Grace Ann Daraug in 2 easy sets 21-2, 21-14 while the girl power of Jessa Piol and Michelle de Felipe outlasted Liza Guillarte and Grace Ann Daraug in a seesaw battle 21-13, 13-21, 21-15 .
In the only other match in this section that day , the tandem of Vhennie Ilejay and Michelle de Felipe were made to sweat before they could win but they pressed on the accelerator in the last 2 sets to edge Liza Guillarte and Jazella Ilejay 20-21, 21-16, 21-19. FILBACK organizers would like to thank Khaled Abden IT Manager of Eureka Trading Co. W.L.L., Greg Blanco and Russel Skoyles of AMEC Oil and Gas Company, Vhennie Ilejay from United Interactive General Trading (UIGT), Rod Robles Director-Century Property, Subway Eat Fresh and Vangie Gernale of Western Union Money Transfer.