Gonzales-Reyes, Perera-Taufik champs in UBC 5 badminton event

In arguably the best final matches in the history of the Ultimate Badminton Challenge (UBC) Series, the UBC 5 Championship events organized by Smash Arabia Badminton Club witnessed classic down-the-wire games as top Class A doubles pair of Rico Gonzales-Ryan Delos Reyes (Friday Boiz) and Class B doubles tandem of Rasika Perera-Mohamed Taufik (Smash Arabia) brought down their opponents for the Class A and B championship titles.
The duo of Gonzales-Reyes looked headed for a one cornered match taking the 1st set easily at set 21-13 against underdog Arun Paul-Vinu Raj (Team Avocado). But the never-say-die tandem of Paul-Raj got their second wind winning the 2nd set closely at 21-18. The 3rd and final set was a see-saw battle when it tied at 17 for the last time, but the court savvy of Gonzales and Reyes proved too much for their opponent to seal the men’s doubles Class A championship game at 21-17.
A come-from-behind win by the duo of Perera-Taufik was easily the match of the evening. Perera, sidelined for 6 months after a medical procedure and had difficulties in his service the past tourneys and in the early stage of UBC 5 , picked up what seemed a lost game trailing by 5 points at 15-20 in the 3rd set. Luckily, they forged a sudden death situation against a very strong pair of Fabid Koothrat & Mohammed Abie (Team Avocado). Serving short at 20-all, Perera-Taufik took a chance to attack, a rally of drive shots ensued and Perera gave Abie a surprise overhead drive which Abie failed to return. Perera jumped up and down in jubilation realizing they won the championship match for the men’s doubles Class B event in a very rare occasion after trailing by 5 points at 1st match point.
“My motivation to win kept me focused and forget any distractions, kept my spirit high to get the best result, one of those miracle games that showed courage and determination to win, and not to give up till the last minute,” said Perera of his resolve despite the odds especially in the last 6 points of the match.
The Ultimate Badminton Challenge Series is an annual event organized by the Smash Arabia Badminton Club headed by Chairman Alan Exevea and supervised by tournament officials as follows: Tournament Director Aldrin Medina, Technical Committee Bob Fernandez, Roland Santos, Romy Capili; Head of Umpires Tem Hernandez, Accountant Candy Exevea, Treasurer Abby Asiatico and Ruel Maligalig, Programs Committee Head Joseff Santiago; Food and Logistics Mark & Grace Villanueva, Jameel Argonza and Sounds & Lights by Eko Yingyom.
During the opening ceremony Desert Falcons led by Chairman Rolly Santos won the Best in Uniform and Mr. UBC 5 title went to Christain Canu also from Desert Falcons. During the awarding ceremony Jorevic Aguirre of Tere Group won the grand raffle draw prize of a return air ticket courtesy of SriLankan Airlines.
The Ultimate Badminton Challenge 5-Clash of the Champions was sponsored by Bupa Arabia in cooperation with SriLankan Airlines, DJ Auto Parts, Pepsi-SIPCO, AVON, OTS Cargo, Bobminton Hub, Global Pinoy Solutions, Uncle Majed’s Rice and Toppings, PHOG, Jollibee, Bugsy Energy Drink and Friends of Smash Arabia.
Complete list of champions & runners-up:
Champions — MSA R.Gonzales (FB), MSB Rasmus Houborg (KAUST), MSC M.Darwish (FB), MSD J.Aguirre (TERE), MSE D.Cabradilla (MBA), MDA R.Gonzales-R.D.Reyes (FB),MDB R.Perera-.Taufik (SMASH),MDC R. Saavedra-M.Darwish (FB), MDD M.Villanueva Boquerente(SMASH), MDE I.Farrukh M.Butt(SMASH), MDF M.Martin-G.D.Cruz(JAGUARS), LSC C.Chua(FALCONS), LSD D.Eugenio(FB), LDC K.Acosta-C.Chua(FLEEQ-FALCONS),LDDR.Acaylar-S.Sanchez(SMASH-ALCONS), LDE D.Eugenio-E.Concepcion(FB), LDF S.Cortez-J.Ching(KAIA), M45-D N.Ramos-O.Cajade(TERE-FALCONS)and M45-E T.Acosta-J.Dionisio(FLEEQ).
Runners-up — MSA M.S. Leong(MBC), MSB O.Julsi, MSC P.Gote(Nitrox), MSD L.Boquerente, MSE A.Ravi-Indian Kids, MDA A.Paul-V.Raj(T.Avocado), MDB F.Koothrat-M.Abie(T.Avocado), MDC M.Gayas-J.Aguirre(JSB-Tere), MDD J.Chonari-S.Mathodi(Indian Tigers), MDE D.Bonga-T.Mohana(FB), MDF P.Ocampo-N.Capinpin(Tere), LSC R.Acaylar(Smash), LSD T.Parabas(Jaunty), LDC R.Acaylar-S.Sanchez(Smash-Falcons), LDE A.Luna-E.Domingo(KAIA-Falcons), LDF R.Laparan-L.Placencia(KAIA).