KUWAIT CITY, April 6 : There is never a better sight than players involved in long rallies, hitting powerful smashes and cross-court drop shots and this is exactly what happened Friday morning when Filipino Badminton Club in Kuwait (FILBACK). the pioneers in producing quality badminton games held their One-Day Tournament at an Arabic school in Riggae.
Richard Amoto and Mohammad Rafiq were in form once again to rule the Men’s Doubles category while Billy Ramos and Cherryle Manaytay were at their best in the Mixed Doubles with both these pairs finishing at the top.
This event would not have been possible without the efforts of FILBACK Founding Chairman Caloy Abesamis, FILBACK Director Leo Regner, FILBACK Tournament Director Ed Buensuceso, Training Director Renato Calanog, Alpha Phi Omega Kuwait Alumni Association (APO KAA-153) and their office-bearers who work hard throughout the year, not only to provide quality tournaments but also to promote friendship and sportsmanship among members of both the organizations.

Men’s Doubles
The tandem of Richard Amoto and Mohammad Rafiq, who have claimed a number of recognitions in FILBACK tourneys, collected yet another award when they proved that they are the best pair in Men’s Doubles category by taming Michael del Pilar and Nato Calanog 21-17, 21-15.
Amoto and Rafiq had been very dominant in all their matches before they reached the final, not letting anyone stretch them to three sets, in fact except for one set in the elimination round where they gave away 20 points as they were not tried at all.
Even in the final they gave away only 17 points in the first set to take a 1-0 lead. Their opponents hardly had a chance in the second set as they could collect only 15 points. Amoto and Rafiq were simply at their best and it was not very long before they had captured the title.

Earlier in the semi finals, Richard Amoto and Mohammad Rafiq overpowered Edison dela Cruz and Caloy Abesamis 21-15, 21-17 while Michael del Pilar and Nato Calanog fought for every point to outlast Nestor Farinas and Rey Queddeng 21-16, 17-21, 21-16.
The first semifinal was a one-way street with Dela Cruz and Abesamis being easily beaten in the first set before putting up some resistance in the second as Amoto and Rafiq swept them off their feet to earn a place in the final.
The second semifinal was a different story as Del Pilar and Calanog ran into a very tough fight from Farinas and Queddeng.
Del Pilar and Calanog took the first set with relative ease as they gave away only 16 points to take a 1-0 lead in the match but Farinas and Queddeng refused to wilt under the pressure and came out fighting in the second set which they took after surrendering 17 points to level the match.
The last set was a repeat of the first as Del Pilar and Calanog again gave 16 points to take the set and clinch a place in the final.

The knock out matches witnessed Donald Briones and Leandro de Jesus outlast Rodel Apepe and Ed Buensuceso 18-21, 21-8, 21-10 while Michael del Pilar and Nato Calanog hammered Roy Satorre and Louie Manabat 21-15, 21-17 and the tandem of Edison dela Cruz and Caloy Abesamis bounced back in their next match against Nestor Farinas and Rey Queddeg to win a seesaw battle 21-17, 17-21, 21-16.
Earlier in the elimination round, Richard Amoto and Mohammad Rafiq collected 3 wins when they overwhelmed Nestor Farinas and Rey Queddeng 21-16, 21-18 before they brushed aside Roy Satorre and Louie Manabat 21-17, 21-15 and overcame Michael del Pilar and Nato Calanog 21-20, 21-15.
Donald Briones and Leandro de Jesus also generated 3 victories when they thumped Edison dela Cruz and Caloy “FILBACK Daddy” Abesamis 21-14, 21-13 while putting in their best effort to edge Michael del Pilar and Nato Calanog 10-21, 21-12, 21-20 and outlast Rodel Apepe and Ed Buensuceso 21-18, 20-21, 21-13.

The tandem of Nestor Farinas and Rey Queddeng pressed on the accelerator in the last two sets and edged Roy Satorre and Louie Manabat 16-21, 21-19, 21-9 before they were involved in another tough match in which they outlasted Edison dela Cruz and Caloy Abesamis 20-21, 21-16, 21-18.
Meanwhile, Edison dela Cruz and Caloy Abesamis fought back after losing their first match to beat Rodel Apepe and Ed Buensuceso 21-13, 21-18 while Michael del Pilar and Nato Calanog edged Rodel Apepe and Ed Buensuceso 14-21, 21-19, 21-16.
Mixed Doubles
Billy Ramos and Cherryle Manaytay proved that they are the best in Mixed Doubles event when they fought wisely to outlast Denies Fermo and James 14-21, 21-15, 21-18.
Ramos and Manaytay had reached the final with an easy victory in their semifinal and so had their opponents but the ultimate champions were not to be denied their moment of glory although they were given a whipping by Fermo and James in the first set who gave away only 14 points to go up in the match.

The second set was a similar story but with the roles reversed as Ramos and Manaytay showed excellent coordination and stamina to turn the tables on their rivals, giving away only 15 points to take the set and level the match.
The third and last set was more closely fought with neither side giving anything away.The rallies were long as both the sides tried to take control of the match with Ramos and Manaytay showing more determination in holding off their opponents to take the set after giving away 18 points and with in the match and the crown.
Earlier in the day, the semifinals saw Billy Ramos and Cherryle Manaytay came up with a game plan to brush aside Noel Zagada and Brilly Lariosa 21-14, 21-13 while Dennis Fermo and James thumped Edison Gaspar and Ronald Brizuela 21-14, 21-13.

Both the semifinals were totally one-sided as the winners did not face too much opposition and looked in a hurry to reach the final.Their opponents wilted under the pressure and it did not take long for them to be knocked out of the tournament.
Noel Zagada and Brilly Lariosa collected 3 wins earlier in the elimination round when they wasted no effort to beat Rey and Beck Beck Orje 21-19, 21-8 before they outlasted Romeo Longalong and Danny Quindoza in a seesaw battle 21-18, 20-21, 21-15.The winners then pressed on the accelerator in the last two sets to edge Gomercindo Imperial and Beth Buensuceso 17-21, 21-18, 21-13.
The tandem of Edison Gaspar and Ronald Brizuela also compiled 3 victories when they outlasted Denies Fermo and James 21-18, 20-21, 21-15, overcame Billy Ramos and Cherryle Manaytay 21-13, 21-20 and overwhelmed Romeo Longalong and Danny Quindoza 21-17, 21-18.
Meanwhile, Billy Ramos and Cherryle Manaytay worked hand in hand to claim two wins when they edged Rey and Beck Beck Orje 21-13, 14-21, 21-16 but they had a fight on their hands before they could outlast Romeo Longalong and Danny Quindoza 21-17, 15-21, 21-20.
In the other matches of this category, Denies Fermo and James bounced back to edge Gomercindo Imperial and Beth Buensuceso 21-20, 20-21, 21-12 but they were involved in a very tight game before they outlasted Rey and Beck Beck Orje 21-13, 18-21, 21-13.
Romeo Longalong and Danny Quindoza did not go home empty handed when they edged Gomercindo Imperial and Beth Buensuceso 15-21, 21-17, 21-20.

Winners:
Men’s Doubles
Champions Richard Amoto & Mohammad Rafiq
1st runners-up Michael del Pilar & Nato Calanog
Mixed Doubles
Champions Billy Ramos & Cherryle Manaytay
1st runners-up Denies Fermo & James
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.