KUWAIT CITY, Feb 1:Raja put on an excellent show to push James Flores into second place in the top-most category of the “New Year Winter Cup”, being organized by the Filipino Badminton Club in Kuwait (FILBACK)— the pioneer and one of the best recognized badminton organizations in the country — at their newly-found home in Nasser Sports Complex , Ardiya, Friday.
While Raja was leading — after the second week — in Men’s Higher A of the New Year Winter Cup, Junnie Gratil remained at the top in Men’s Lower A, Joy Villanueva was still the leader in Men’s Lower B, Romeo Longalong moved into the top spot in Men’s Higher C and Grace Calungsod continued to be the best in Men’s Lower C.
This event would not have been possible without the efforts of FILBACK Founding Chairman Caloy Abesamis along with FILBACK Director Leo Regner, FILBACK Tournament Director Renato Calanog, Alpha Phi Omega Kuwait Alumni Association (APO KAA-153) and its office bearers who work hard throughout the year to not only provide quality tournaments but also promote friendship and sportsmanship among the members of these organizations.

Men’s Higher A
After completion of 12 matches, Raja was at the top in the premium class of Men’s Higher A with 532 points while James Flores, who had been leading last week, was in 2nd place with 507 and close on his trail with 506 points in 3rd place was Edison dela Cruz.
This week’s matches saw Dennis and Jess press on the accelerator in the last two sets to edge the good pair of Nestor and Roy 19-21, 21-11, 21-18 while Harinath and James wasted no effort to thrash Vasu and Emil 21-13, 21-16.
In some of the other matches, Mathew and Jess crushed Roy and Mohammed 21-9, 21-10, Dennis and Edison overwhelmed Nestor and Ray Allan 21-16, 21-18, Raja and Dennis hammered Richard and Ray Allan 21-11, 21-13 and Vasu with James outlasted Mathew and Harinath in a seesaw battle 21-16, 18-21, 21-13.
Meanwhile, Nestor and Dennis beat Raja and Jess 21-13, 19-21, 21-17 while Vasu and Emil overcame Mohammed and Mathew 21-12, 21-20, Nestor and Mathew wasted no effort to thump Raja and Vasu 21-13, 21-17, Raja and Ray Allan edged Harinath and Richard 19-21, 21-20, 21-16 and the tandem of Mathew and Edison overpowered Vasu and Nestor 21-17, 21-13.
The other games witnessed Edison and Nestor thump Richard and Dennis 21-12, 21-19 while Harinath and Raja overcame Emil and Jess 21-17, 21-20, Ray Allan and Dennis outlasted Nestor and Mohammed 19-21, 21-13, 21-14, Harinath and Vasu edged Richard and Mathew 17-21, 21-18, 21-16, Richard and Vasu beat Harinath and Dennis 21-14, 13-21, 21-10, Dennis and Joker outlasted Harinath and Joker 21-18, 20-21, 21-19 and the pair of Roy and Joker edged Dennis and Joker 21-11, 17-21, 21-10.

Rank Men’s Higher A Pts
1 Raja 532
2 James Flores 507
3 Edison Dela Cruz 506
4 Emil Millanar 479
5 Jess Sibunga 476
6 Harinath Gadikota 461
7 Nestor Farinas 460
8 Mathew Jacob 458
9 Roy Satore 453
10 Dennis Malay 451
11 Richard Amoto 448
12 Ray Allan Sayoto 438
13 Mohammed Rafiq 431
14 Renato Calanog 394
15 Vasu Shrinivas 365

Men’s Lower A
In Men’s Lower A, Junnie Gratil retained the driver’s seat with 532 points after 12 games while Noel Zagada claimed 2nd place with 507 points and in 3rd place was newcomer Ronilo Fuentes with 506 points.
This week the tandem of Junnie and Joel A. outclassed Dennis and Sid 21-17, 21-9 while Joel D. and Ronilo edged Noel and Andrew 21-20, 10-21, 21-14.
Also doing well were Billy and Ronilo who thumped Cesar and Joel A. 21-10, 21-15, while Cesar and Andrew outlasted Caloy and Sid 21-11, 19-21, 21-12 and the pair of Noel and Joel D. edged past Brilly and Sid 21-17, 17-21, 21-14.
On the other hand, Junnie and Dennis blended well on the courts to edge Joel A. and Andrew 21-16, 17-21, 21-15 while Brilly and Andrew overwhelmed Cesar and Cheryl 21-17, 21-19, Joel D. and Sid overcame Caloy and Joel A. 21-16, 15-21, 21-18, Noel and Cesar hammered Billy and Brilly 21-11, 21-18, Joel A. and Cheryl held on to tame Ronilo and Andrew 21-19, 21-20.
Meanwhile, Caloy and Andrew crushed Billy and Sid in back to back sets 21-12, 21-12 while Ronilo and Joel A. brushed aside Caloy and Cheryl 21-18, 21-15, Ronilo and Dennis were made to sweat for every point and outlasted Junnie and Billy in one of the mouthwatering clashes that day 21-20, 20-21, 21-20, Noel and Cheryl showed some class and beat Cesar and Brilly 19-21, 21-10, 21-17 and the pair of Cesar and Joker edged Cheryl and Brilly 21-17, 14-21, 21-18.

Rank Men’s Lower A Pts
1 Junnie Gratil 532
2 Noel Zagada 507
3 Ronilo Fuentes 506
4 Ceasar Isidro 500
5 Joel De La Cruz 494
6 Dennis Fermo 482
7 Andrew Dalida 481
8 Caloy Abesamis 465
9 Joel Aguirre 462
10 Cheryl Manaytay 450
11 Billy Ramos 442
12 Brilly Lariosa 434
13 Sung Lee 404
14 Sid Ladia 380
15 Rodel Apepe 334

Men’s Lower B
Joy Villanueva, one of the ladies playing in Men’s Lower B class, proved that she is in a class of her own when she topped the category with 526 points while Joey Maravillas earned 514 points to comfortably sit in 2nd place and Gomer Imperial was 3rd with 494 points. All players in this class completed 12 matches after two weeks of games.
This week’s games saw Sherwin and Joey overwhelmed Joel and Depal 21-16, 21-16 while Joey and Depal tamed Chato and Joel 21-18, 21-15, Joy and Ronal thrashed Sherwin and Joel 21-8, 21-14.
Joel and Ronald then edged Chato and Joy 21-20, 18-21, 21-13, Chato and Joey thumped Sherwin and Depal 21-16, 21-19 and the pair of Joy and Joey outlasted Ronald and Chato 21-18, 18-21, 21-15.
Meanwhile, Joel and Joey thrashed Ronald and Depal 21-15, 21-11 while Joel and Joy overcame Joey and Depal 21-14, 21-20, Ronald and Joy edged Gomer and Joey 20-21, 21-16, 21-6, Gomer and Joel outclassed Depal and Joy 21-16, 21-16, Gomer and Joey brushed aside Sherwin and Depal 21-9, 21-17 and the tandem of Depa and Joey hammered Gomer and Sherwin 21-11, 21-14.
Meanwhile, Joey and Sherwin outlasted Gomer and Ronald in a close 3-set match 17-21, 21-18, 21-20 while Chato and Ronald tamed Sherwin and Joel 21-16, 21-19, Joel and Gomer thumped Joey and Chato 21-12, 21-15, Ronald and Gomer beat Chato and Joker 12-21, 21-10, 21-18, Chato and Joker overpowered two jokers 21-11, 21-14 and Joy with Joker tamed Chato and Joker 21-16, 21-14.

Rank Men’s Lower B Pts
1 Joy Villanueva 526
2 Joey Maravillas 514
3 Gomer Imperial 494
4 Ronald Brizuela 484
5 Joel Gonzaga 467
6 Chato Guillermo 464
7 Sherwin Perez 425
8 Depal 420
9 Mamoun 353

Men’s Higher C
In Men’s Higher C, after 12 games having been played, Romeo Longalong had compiled 533 points to lead the event while Andrei Varilla emerged 2nd second best with 522 points and in 3rd place was Rico Gabuyo with 502 points.
Romeo and Sandy edged Rico and Andrei 15-21, 21-18, 21-11 while Mark and Romeo beat Rommel and Rico 21-18, 19-21, 21-20, Sandy and Butch outlasted Rommel and Rico 21-19, 19-21, 21-20 and Andrei with Romeo overwhelmed Mark and Rico 21-15, 21-15.
Meanwhile, Romeo and Rico hammered Butch and Mark 21-17, 21-16 while Sandy and Mark outlasted Romeo and Joker 21-17, 12-21, 21-16, Mark and Andrei thumped Butch and Sandy 21-17, 21-13, Sandy and Andrei crushed Butch and Mark 21-15, 21-10 and Romeo with Joker outclassed two Jokers 21-9, 21-11.
Rank Men’s Higher C Pts
1 Romeo Longalong 533
2 Andrei Varilla 522
3 Rico Gabuyo 502
4 Sandy Payade 483
5 Mark Gil Delen 458
6 Butch Bagahasol 442
7 Rhommel Torres 435

Men’s Lower C
Grace Calungsod continued to reign in Men’s Lower C class with 552 points and far off in 2nd place was George Burgos with 493 points and in 3rd place Albert Naguit with 488 points. All players in this category finished 12 matches each.
Lyn and George overpowered Carl and Val 21-16, 21-6 while Carl and Lyn overcame Ayie and George 21-19, 21-20.
In some of the other matches, Albert and Carl brushed aside Val and Grace 21-15, 21-11, Ayie and Grace hammered Albert and Val 21-19, 21-9 and Grace and Jovie tamed Abbey and Ayie 21-18, 21-17.
On the other hand, Carl and Jovie beat Albert and Ayie 17-21, 21-20, 21-18 while Grace and Abbey thumped Cedric and Jovie 21-16, 21-18, Lyn and Cedric overwhelmed George and Abbey 21-13, 21-18 and Cedric with Joker crushed Jovie and Abbey 21-15, 21-11.

Rank Men’s Lower C Points
1 Grace Calungsod 552
2 George Burgs 493
3 Albert Naguit 488
4 Cedric Isidro 487
5 Ccarl Allison 483
6 Lyn Pascua 470
7 Ayi Buenaventura 437
8 Abbey 431
9 Jovie Vidal 393
10 Val Canicosa 332
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.