Rabie Oba-ob opened his 2026 MIA Badminton Challenge Cup campaign in dominant fashion, defeating Iammai Adiaton, 15–9, 15–2, to advance to the Round of 32 on Monday at the MIA Sports Center in Pasay City.

The tournament’s top seed and No. 4-ranked player in the country needed just 22 minutes to fend off Adiaton’s upset bid, although the seasoned veteran admitted he still had to adjust to the tournament’s scoring system.

"My performance was okay although it was kind of unfamiliar playing up-to-15 games. It was a fast game to play and you van’t afford to take it easy because you gottta be aggressive,” said the Philippine Air Force airman first class.

Oba-ob will face Christian Paderon, who dispatched Joey Li, 15–3, 15–0, in the Round of 32 on Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Elsewhere in the top section of the draw, Joseph Lopez and Aaron Bedaña also secured their spots in the Round of 32 of this Super 500 tournament.

Lopez, a University of the Philippines product, punched his ticket to the Round of 32 with a 15–6, 15–3 victory over James Carpina.

Bedaña, an incoming sophomore at the University of Santo Tomas, likewise advanced after sweeping Shane Polayapoy, 15–5, 15–6.