As The Carpenters’ On Top of the World drifted through the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan last night, players from across Oceania and beyond gathered for one final celebration after seven days of badminton, friendship and island hospitality at the CROWNE PLAZA Oceania Masters in Paradise.
Those themes were reflected by the tournament’s competitive champions, Nate’s Mates, who completed an undefeated campaign to claim gold ahead of Kiwi Allsorts and Tropical Birdies.
Despite their flawless record, team member Michelle Au admitted there was plenty of pressure against some experienced opposition.
“I’ll be honest, we feel very relieved because we were playing super vets who have kids that are older than us,” she said.
She also praised the standard of the event.
“This week has been awesome playing very professional, some of the most professionally run badminton events in masters.”
For teammate and partner Robbie Thachkam, who travelled to Saipan with his family, it was the welcoming nature of the hosts and fellow competitors that stood out.
“All of the locals and all of the teams create hospitality and great local teams,” he said.
“They’re all friendly and welcoming and the best babysitters.”
Local player Nate Guerrero, whose namesake team lifted the trophy, believes the tournament’s spirit is what set the event apart.
“It’s a tournament where there isn’t as much pressure. We all want to win, but it’s all good vibes over here,” Guerrero said.
“Everyone is so welcoming, even the people from the other countries. It’s just really great meeting new people and everyone has the same mindset, where everyone wants to win but they want to have a good time.”
Competitive Division
- Gold: Nate’s Mates
- Silver: Kiwi Allsorts
- Bronze: Tropical Birdies
K-minton Rises to the Occasion
The recreational division delivered its own memorable moments, with K-minton narrowly overcoming Romantic Guam to take the title, while Ageless Aces secured bronze.
Team captain Suel Yi Lee said the opportunity to play multiple matches across the week helped her game develop significantly.
“I wasn’t expecting to finish first place but my teammates were all good and we were getting better every game,” Lee said.
“There were many times where I lost a point or game and I was able to see what I had missed and prepare well for the next game. It was good improvement.”
Her highlight came in a dramatic women’s doubles clash.
“Round 5 was the best when I played women’s doubles. In the third set we went to 25-23 to finally win!”
Recreational Division
- Gold: K-minton
- Silver: Romantic Guam
- Bronze: Ageless Aces
As players exchanged farewells overlooking the waters of Saipan, the CROWNE PLAZA Oceania Masters in Paradise once again demonstrated that while competition remains at its heart, the tournament’s greatest strength is the community it creates. Across seven days, players found not only victories and hard-fought matches, but also new friendships, shared experiences and plenty of reasons to return.
