Poca joins VP Binay G Prix title hunt

MANILA, Philippines - Malvinne “Poca” Alcala gets the chance to re-display her wares before local fans as she joins the hunt for crown in the P1 million VP Binay Grand Prix Badminton Open Championships-PBaRS fourth leg firing off Oct. 23 at Powersmash in Makati.

The reigning Singapore and Australian juniors champion didn’t see action in the first and third legs due to her commitments abroad but topped the ladies Open singles when she competed in the second leg of the Philippine Badminton Ranking System tournament in Bacolod.

With Alcala back in the fold, PBaRS third leg champion Gelita Castilo will have her hands full as she tries to avenge her second leg setback to the talented 16-year-old shuttler, guaranteeing an explosive showdown between two of the country’s leading players.

Alcala, whose international campaign, together with Joper Escueta, is subsidized by the Badminton Asia Confederation under its Asian Development Team, is also set to see action in the girls Under-19 division where she would bid to foil Bianca Carlos’ attempt for a four-leg sweep of the crown.

Carlos has dominated the U-19 class, beating Nikki Servando, Anna Barredo and Janelle de Vera in the first three legs but faces a tougher challenge with the entry of Alcala.

Around 750 players are vying in the upcoming seven-day tournament, co-presented by MVP Sports Foundation and Robinsons Land, which serves as the culmination of a four-leg nationwide circuit that ranks players according to the strength and performance.

The elims will be played at PowerSmash while the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will be held either at the Philsports Arena or Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

Also on tap in the tournament, put up by Vice President and Philippine Badminton Association president Jejomar Binay, Rep. Albee Benitez and businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan, are the Open, Under-19 and Under-15 divisions in the men’s and ladies singles and men’s and ladies doubles and mixed doubles categories.

At stake in the Open class of the event, sponsored PLDT Smart Foundation, Robinsons Mall, Gatorade and official equipment sponsor Victor, exclusively distributed by PCOME Industrial Sales, Inc., are P70,000 while the U-19 and U-15 winners will receive P20,000 and P10,000, respectively.

The event’s media partners are The Philippine STAR, TV5, Badminton Extreme Philippines Magazine, Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT and 103.5 WOW! and TV-5.