Alcala shines in HK Super Series

MANILA, Philippines - Malvinne Alcala hacked out a pair of upset victories, including a three-setter over Malaysia’s top singles junior player Lydia Li Ya Cheah, to advance to the main draw of the Hong Kong Super Series Badminton Championship at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong.

Alcala, 16, recovered from a second set setback but needed to toughen up in an extended third set duel to essay a 21-15, 17-21, 22-20 win over Cheah last Monday.

Sustaining her form, Alcala subdued Hong Kong’s Ngan Yi Cheung, 22-20, 21-18, to qualify to the tournament proper of the second highest Badminton World Federation level event, which offers a total purse of $250,000.

Alcala faces fancied fifth seed Pi Hongyan of France in the main draw.

She and Ronel Estanislao, however, bowed to Malaysia’s Thien How Hoon and Hui Ern Ng, 21-15, 21-14, in the mixed doubles.

“I am happy with our players performance. They’re still young but they put up a good fight against the best in the world in this high-level tournament. Some of them even won,” said former First Lady and Philippine Badminton Association president Amelita “Ming” Ramos.

The team’s campaign is sanctioned by the PBA and headed by coach Allan de Leon and assistant coach Malvin Alcala.

Philip Escueta and Peter Magnaye likewise advanced to the main draw of men’s doubles as they beat Hong Kong’s Tak Ching Chang and Chin Chung Or, 21-19, 21-9.

They will take on Malaysia’s Mohd Zakry Abdul and Thien Latif Thien while the Asuncion Badminton Center’s pair of Antonino Benjamin Gadi and Kennevic Asuncion will go up against Korea’s Sung Hyun Ko and Yeon Seong Yoo.