Alcala, Escueta head Ming-Victor Open cast

MANILA, Philippines – Fresh from her gold medal feat in the Singapore Youth International, Malvinne Alcala looms as the top favorite when she sets out for the Ming Ramos-Victor National Open and Youth Badminton Championships firing off Monday at Club 650 and PSC Badminton Hall at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Joper Escueta, on the other hand, will be the marked man in the boys’ side of the four-day tournament which features the country’s leading and rising stars vying for top honors in various divisions and spots in the national pool.

Also seeing action in the event are Ariel Magnaye, EJ Boac, Cassandra Lim, Nikki Servando and a pair of 11-year-old talents in Mark Shelley Alcala and Aira Mae Albo. Others in the fold are players from the various badminton clubs in the country, including Allied Badminton, Escoses Training Camp, WWGBA, Whackers Badminton Academy, Gingoog Badminton Club and Team Prima.

Alcala, 15, toppled a slew of talented foreign rivals to pocket the Under-17 crown in Singapore then expressed confidence of her chances in next week’s event organized and conducted by the Philippine Badminton Association (PBA), affiliated with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC).

“I feel good and will continue to strive hard and train to bring more honors to the country,” said Alcala, who also cited PBA president Amelita “Ming” Ramos for providing and supporting the Filipino players’ campaigns abroad. She is expected to see action in the U-17 and the Open categories.

Club 650 in Libis, QC will host the first two days of the event for the eliminations with the quarterfinals, the semis and the finals to be held at the PSC badminton hall.

Meanwhile, the BAC will send personnel to observe the conduct of the event in line with the badminton body’s program of holding the SEA BAC training camp in the country next year.