Gelita Castilo completed a busy day by advancing in both the mixed doubles and women’s doubles 30-and-above playoffs of the 2026 MIA Badminton Challenge Cup on Saturday at the MIA Sports Center in Pasay City.
The UAAP Season 75 MVP and champion with both Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines went undefeated on the day, teaming up with Mike Minuluan in Mixed Doubles and Patricia Barredo in Women’s Doubles to top their respective groups in the tournament backed by Rally Sports, JPA Sports, Wilkins Pure, Minute Maid, and Playa de Nubla Private Resort.
“Excited ako noon, kasi this is the first time in years na nagkaroon ng tournament para sa mga age na namin na 30s, 40s. At the same time, ni-look forward ko makita yung mga batchmates ko,” Castilo, who now coaches young athletes with DGS Bulacan, shared upon learning about the Masters division.
Minuluan and Castilo opened the day with a thrilling 15–10, 15–11 victory over RJ Ormilla and Mariel Ordoña before needing just 11 minutes to dispatch Jonathan Clado and Mae Villanueva, 15–3, 15–7, and top Group A.
Later in the day, Castilo and Barredo swept Steffi Aquino and Pia Fabros, 15–12, 15–11, before outlasting Paula Chan and Rose Ann Navor, 13–15, 15–8, 15–9.
The two former UAAP standouts then completed their group sweep with a 15–13, 15–7 victory over Nami Wada and Yuriko Wakai.
Castilo and Barredo will part ways in the Mixed Doubles round-robin playoffs, with Barredo teaming up with fellow University of Santo Tomas product John Paul Yabut after the pair topped Group C in the tournament, which is part of the Philippine National Ranking System Super 500 series.
The champions in men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles in both the 30-and-above and 40-and-above age groups will be determined on Sunday, still at the same Pasay venue.
