Alcala scores twin feat in National Open

MANILA, Philippines - Malvinne Ann Alcala re-staked her claim as the country’s top badminton player, sweeping the Open and the Under-19 singles crowns even as Peter Magnaye reigned in the boys’ side of the Ming Ramos-Victor National Open and Youth Badminton Championships at the PSC Badminton Hall yesterday.

Alcala, coming off a gold medal performance in last week’s Singapore Youth International, dominated Janelle de Vera, 21-5, 21-11, in the U-19 finals then held off Bacolod’s Nikki Servando, 21-14, 21-17, in the Open championship to complete the sweep of the girls’ premier events.

“It was really tiring but I’m determined to win so I gave it my all,” said the 15-year-old Alcala.

Magnaye succeeded in toppling Paul Vivas, 21-19, 21-13, in an all-Phl squad finale to bag the boys’ Open crown but failed to duplicate Alcala’s feat as he lost to Joper Escueta, 9-21, 11-21, in the U-19 final.

Magnaye, getting a big push from Vivas’ upset of the top-ranked Escueta in the Open semifinals Wednesday, outlasted Vivas in a tough first set duel then overpowered his rival in the second to clinch the title.

But he failed to score a twin feat as Escueta atoned for his Open loss to beat Magnaye and salvage the U-19 diadem in the four-day championship organized by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by president and former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos.

“I hardly had time to warm up and get in groove in the U-19 finals. So I went all out in the Open finals, knowing that this would be my chance to win a Open (division) medal for the first time,” said Magnaye, 18.

Also making her mark was Escoses Training Camp bet Cassandra Grace Lim, who went home with a gold and silver medal in the tournament sponsored by San Miguel Corp. and Victor, distributed locally by PCOME Industrial Sales.

Lim played true to her top seeding in the U-15 division, dismantling No. 3 Joella Geva de Vera WBA, 21-12, 21-19, to capture the crown.

Servando, however, foiled Lim’s bid for a second crown as she seized the U-17 diadem with a 21-15, 21-13 victory to likewise finish with a gold-silver feat in the tournament sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC).

Meanwhile, the top seeds in the other age brackets suffered contrasting fates.

No. 1 Mark Shelly Alcala of Allied-Victor copped the boys’ singles U-13 plum over second seed and fellow Allied mainstay Kenneth Cuden, 21-14, 21-16; Allied’s Kenneth Monterubio collared the boys’ U-17 at the expense of No. 2 teammate Gerald Sibayan, 21-7, 21-18. Allied’s Aldreen Concepcion outclassed WBA’s No. 2 Jelenne Geviane de Vera, 21-15, 21-17, for the girls’ U-11 crown; and Aira Mae Nicole Albo tripped WBA’s second ranked Christine Eleanor Inlayo, 21-19, 21-9, for the girls’ U-13 plum.

But Allied’s Daniel Baguio, the top seed in boys’ U-11, fell to wildcard Yang Lee Daryl of MSI juniors, 21-12, 21-12, while No. 1 Joshua Monterubio bowed to No. 2 Carlo Glenn Remo of Escoses, 18-21, 21-11, 21-19, in the boys’ U-15.