BADMINTON’s biggest local and foreign names graced the courts of the 2026 FDG Cup, but when it came time to crown champions, the tournament’s top seeds left little room for surprises.
Three of the four main categories ended in swift two-set victories, with only the men’s doubles final breaking the pattern and delivering an instant classic before a packed crowd in the Philippines’ premier badminton showcase on Sunday at Opus Mall.
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The lone thriller came in the men’s doubles final where top seeds Solomon Padiz Jr. and Julius Villabrille had to surviveda furious comeback from Christian Bernardo and Alvin Morada before escaping with a 15-11, 16-18, 15-13 victory.
What initially looked headed for a routine straight-set victory turned into a thriller after Bernardo and Morada stole the second set late.
The deciding set went down to the wire before a late infraction ultimately swung the match in favor of Padiz and Villabrille, sealing the hard-fought win in three sets.
The dramatic finale stood in stark contrast to the rest of the marquee matches of this tournament, which celebrated its 20th year as one of the premier badminton events in the country.
In men’s singles, Clarence Villaflor needed just two games to dispatch Jamal Rahmat Pandi, 15-7, 15-4, by showcasing the form that made him the tournament favorite.
The women’s singles title likewise went according to script as top seed Mikaela Joy de Guzman controlled her championship duel against Ysabel Aurora Amora, 15-8, 15-7.
The women’s doubles final proved no different as Jochelle Alvarez and Korean partner Min Ji Kim completed the sweep by top seeds after overpowering Anthea Marie Gonzalez and Jacinda Maxine Marchan, 15-9, 15-9.
Founded by businessman and current Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go, the highly-anticipated annual competition gathers the country's top national athletes, collegiate standouts and even internationally-renowned badminton legends, making it one of the sport's most coveted titles on the local calendar.
The mixed doubles championship also went the distance.
Morada first had a breakthrough before his late heartbreak in the men’s doubles final and teamed up with Jeya Von Pinlac to outlast Padiz Jr. and Mary Destiny Untal, 14-16, 15-10, 15-12, in a well-fought three-set battle.
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