Alcala, Escueta capture Prima Pasta Open crowns

MANILA, Philippines - Rising young star and national player Malvinne Ann “Poca” Alcala and Philip Joper Escueta won their respective events in the 2011 Prima Pasta Invitational Badminton Open over the weekend at the Powersmash courts on Pasong Tamo, Makati.

Alcala pocketed the girls’ 18-and-under and mixed doubles open titles in the event supported Prima Pasta, Boysen Paints, RFM, Mabz Builders, Pioneer Life, Prince, ILO Construction, Monolith Construction, Promax Intl., Carlton and Amstar.

The 15-year-old Philippine No. 1 Alcala of RP-Allied beat clubmate Danica San Ignacio, 21-11, 21-12, for the singles crown of the event supported also byAxis Construction, Jones Lang La Salle Leechiu and Jose Siao Ling & Associates.

Alcala teamed up with Adhitya Arifin to topple Rudy Widjaya and Karyn Velez, 24-22, 21-17, and win the doubles title of the event sponsored by Sincere Construction, U2 Electrical, First Life Financial Co. and Belarmino and Associates.

Escueta, meanwhile, won the boys’ 18-U title against Kevin Cudiamat, 21-6, 21-3. 

Other champions in the mixed doubles level were Amboy Garcia and Gelita Castilo of Crame/Lining (A); Jacqui Abangan and Jess Alonzo (B); Kevin Borja and Janice Liwag (C); Tess Austria and Rico Tabios (D); Mike Alayon and Mae Tagab (E); Adonis Zerna and Diane Zerna (F); and Willy Lopez and Katrina Gan (G).

The champions in the girls singles-under class of the event organized by chairman Alex Lim were Janelle De Vera (16); Jessie Francisco (14); Maria Angela Sevilla (12); and Aldreen Concepcion (10).

The champions in the boys’ singles class were Kenneth Monterubio (16); Markie Alcala (14 and 12); and Lee Daryl Yang (10).

The event was also sponsored by Mega Subic Terminal, Glasscape, EYP, Unipack Plastics, Silverstar Petroleum, Waterlite Engineering, Philbless, Morning Star Milling, Regent foods, Del Montel Phils., 99.5 RT and Yoshinoya.