THE AMAZING RACE ASIA 5: RETURN OF THE OLD FAVORITE

After a 6 year hiatus, The Amazing Race Asia returns to TV via AXN for its fifth season and once again the challenge and the race promises to be great and challenging at the same time. Allan Wu returns as the main host while Tara Basro, an Indonesian actress served as Wu's co-host while they were in Indonesia.

Rei & Keiji

Vicky & Rachel

Lisa & Nicole

A total of 11 teams started the race in Jakarta but to some big twists and surprises. First time in the team's history that a team will be eliminated right at the start of the race causing the Vietnamese team of Lisa and Nicole to be eliminated from the get go. Malaysia gets 3 teams in this edition of the race followed by familiar countries like Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore who have 2 teams a piece. Thailand also gets one team into the race for this fifth edition.

Brandon & Alphaeus

Will & Alex

Tom & Anita

Early on favorites include Malaysian School friends Brandon & Alphaeus, Muscle Brothers also from Malaysia Will & Alex and dating couple from Thailand Tom & Anita. All of which have been already eliminated after 6 legs of the race so far.

Parul & Maggie

Yvonne & Chloe

Treasuri & Louisa

3 all-female teams which includes two beauty queen tandems - Parul & Maggie (Philippines) and Yvonne & Chloe (Malaysia) plus the early leaders Indonesian Treasuri and Louisa were surprisingly among the 5 teams left currently together with couples Eric & Rona (Philippines) and radio DJs JK and Mike (Singapore). With each of the team not showing complete consistency, I am still pinning my hopes on Eric & Rona to take home the title again for the Philippines. Outside of the first edition where RP team were the first 2 eliminated, the country's representatives have done well in the next 3 editions placing in the Top 3 for each of the editions - Season 2 (Marc & Rovilson - 3rd place); Season 3 (Geoff & Tisha - 2nd place) and Season 4 (Richard & Richard - Winner).

JK & Mike

Eric & Rona