MANILA — University of the Philippines standouts Shan Clar and Susmita Ramos toppled higher-ranked opponents in straight games to capture the men’s and women’s Open singles championships, respectively, in the 2026 MIA Badminton Challenge Cup at the MIA Sports Center in Pasay City.
Clar delivered the tournament’s biggest upset in the men’s singles final, stunning top seed and Philippine No. 4 Rabie Oba-ob, 15-13, 15-8, in just 28 minutes.
Ranked No. 12 in the Philippines, the UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year kept his composure in a tight opening game before taking control of the second to complete the straight-game victory over the heavily favored Oba-ob.
The incoming third-year Fighting Maroon said his approach was to remain in the moment and treat every match as a new challenge.
“Since nag-start naman, ang iniisip ko talaga, hindi ko siya sine-set lang sa ngayong laro, na every panibago siyang laro, panibago siyang feeling, maging present lang ako,” Clar said.
Clar hopes the championship will provide momentum as he prepares to assume a bigger role for UP in the coming UAAP season, but stressed that the victory should not lead to complacency.
“Siguro sa mga susunod na tournament, hindi ko dapat isipin na nag-champion ako, kundi kung paano ko pa rin ‘to nakuha. Yung hardwork pa rin at hindi nagkukumpiyansa,” he added.
Ramos was equally impressive in the women’s singles final, needing only 24 minutes to turn back fellow UP player and co-top seed Brys Fuggan, 15-11, 15-13.
The incoming UP women’s team captain entered the tournament determined to regain her peak form following an injury-plagued previous season.
“Ang motivation ko po talaga is to get back to my peak performance po talaga, since last year it was a bad performance, especially coming from injury. I want na since malapit na ‘yung season, mapakita ko na prepared ako at ready to play for the UAAP,” Ramos said.
Ramos completed a two-title haul after teaming up with fellow UP co-captain Kimberly Lao to capture the women’s doubles championship.
Ramos and Lao outlasted teammates Anthea Gonzalez and Nikki Paz, 15-13, 8-15, 15-10, in a 39-minute final.
UP also ruled the mixed doubles as Enzo Rivera and Krissa De Leon defeated former National University players Mike Minuluan and Sarah Joy Barredo, 15-10, 15-10.
Mike Maratas and Nestojan Tapales, meanwhile, secured the men’s doubles championship with a 16-14, 15-11 victory over UP-Allied’s Micheal Clemente and Rally Sports’ Neil Pineda.
Clar and Ramos each received P10,000 and a gold medal for their singles championships, while the doubles champions also earned P10,000 apiece. Runners-up received P5,000 and silver medals, while semifinalists took home P2,500 and bronze medals.
In the Under-18 competitions, World Juniors-bound Roaquine Ramos also emerged as a double champion.
Ramos and Stephen Pantuan captured the boys’ doubles crown after edging Whackers Badminton Development Center’s Van Joel Lucas and Glihord Suladay, 21-20, 16-14.
He later teamed up with Enya Almazan to defeat Louise Bernardino and Andie De Leon, 15-10, 15-11, in the mixed doubles final./PN
