Alcala joins PBaRS title hunt

Manila, Philippines - Malvinne Ann Alcala finally gets to show her wares in the MVP Sports Foundation-Bingo Bonanza Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) as she joins the title chase in the second leg of the event firing off May 31 at the Pohang Badminton Courts in Bacolod City.

Alcala missed the inaugural staging of the country’s new ranking tournament last March to compete abroad but the 16-year-old find has made herself available for the upcoming P1 million event which features the country’s leading and rising stars.

She will be coming into the event fresh from winning the 2011 Li-ning Australia Juniors in Australia, making her the player to watch both in the Open and Under-19 divisions of the tournament, a project of Vice President Jejomar Binay, Rep. Albee Benitez and businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan in their effort to bring the sport to a higher level and produce world-class players.

Bianca Carlos racked up three wins in the PBaRS inaugurals, including the Open and U-19 singles crowns, but will have her hands full this time with the entry of Alcala, also the reigning Singapore Youth International champion.

A host of other talented players are also in the fold, including La Salle’s Danica Bolos, Reyne Calimlim and Pauline Ramos, Iloilo’s Annelyn Alba and Camille Burgos, Bulacan’s Ana Fajardo, Kathleen Balatbat, Jamila Cruz of Victor-Pcome, and Escoses Training Camp’s Pamela Lim and Cassandra Lim.

The Bacolod swing is the second of four tournaments lined up this year to give those in the provinces a chance to play in top-level tournaments and gain ranking points. The next stop will be in Davao on July 31-Aug. 6 before winding up with the VP Grand Prix Badminton Open Championships on Oct. 22-29 in Manila.

For details, log on to www.pbars.com <http://www.pbars.com/>  or email [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>.