Three years in the running and the MESUCA CUP continues to impressively draw in the enthusiastic participants to its annual year-ender badminton tournament.  A total of 1,104 participants trooped  to the Powersmash Courts in Makati for the three days of the tourney (November 8, 9, and 15) and played fast and furious badminton to outperform the competition.  Cheered on by fellow players and supporters, the pairs on court played their hearts out as every point and every win counted in the challenging elimination rounds.  Seen on court prodding their trainees were respected players in their own right, Indonesian Rudy Wijaya, Indonesian Tek Ming, and Mainland Chinese now Manila resident Lily Wang, herself the Level A Ladies Doubles Champion of the first-ever Mesuca Cup in 2006.  Other trainers chose to fight it out themselves by participating as players, namely Alex Cuevas, JC Benipayo and Chester Cordero.

On Day 1, the highly energetic men steadily trimmed down the line-ups as they fought their way up for the quarterfinals.  The passion to win became even more apparent on Day 2 as all the remaining levels of the Men’s Doubles and the entire Women’s Doubles categories tangled for the closely-fought championships that were all completed that day.  Held on a separate weekend, the Mixed Doubles events on Day 3 climaxed with the finals Level A and Level C matches that capped the night.  Spectators were on the edge of their seats, holding their breaths as the thrilling finale of the Level A championship looked like it could still go either way… till, of course, the last two services finally brought the games to an exciting and decisive finish.

So they all came…and played, conquered or were conquered.  After 3 days, 18 pairs stood victorious as Levels A to F MESUCA CUP 2008 champions and another 18 pairs stood slightly in their shadow as runners-up.  The list of winners include familiar names from the past 2 MESUCA CUP tourneys, such as:  CHESKA BERMEJO, MARIFE DURANA, JUBIE VILLARTA, ABEL VILLARAN, MIA VILLARIN, BING GAYOTIN, DENDEN DIMARUCOT, CHESTER CORDERO, and EDISON CUPCUPIN.  But many new personalities also emerged and point to still untapped and unexposed potentials of our country’s badminton players.

And so the face of Philippine Badminton continues to be shaped by the talents honed and made to shine at tournaments like the MESUCA CUP.  Badminton may be taking on a lower profile these days but you can be sure that those committed to the sport are out there practicing their serves, smashes, lobs, drives, and drops till the next tournament comes around. 

The MESUCA CUP helps uphold MESUCA PHILIPPINES’ mission to promote health, wellness and character development through sports.   Partnering with MESUCA PHILS for this year’s event were sponsors:  Fatima Dermatological Center, American Eye Center Shangrila Mall, Berroca from Bayer Phils., Pag-ibig Fund, Caltex with Techron, MET, Pocari Sweat, Yoshinoya, Slimmers World, Walter Bread, David’s Salon, Antel Residential Suites, Astoria Plaza Ortigas, Chef Tony’s Popcorn, Krispy Kreme, Kell’s Iced Tea, Lactacyd, Tini Wines, The Philippine Star, Action and Fitness Magazine, Men’s Health Magazine, One Sport Magazine, UNTV 37, Sports 37, www.RegionalExtreme.com, www.YourBadminton.com, www.Yehey.com, Robinson’s Malls Radio, Caltex Music Station, MRT Radio, Wlater Mart Radio, and AudioWAV InStore Radio Specialist.

(For dealership, call 721-4938, 0917-804-8216, www.MesucaPhilippines.com).