Alcala downs M'rubio, captures U-19 crown

MANILA, Philippines - Young Mark Alcala validated his claim as the next badminton superstar when he clipped third seed Jose Kenneth Monterubio, 21-18, 21-19, to pocket the boys’ Under-19 title and complete a double victory in the P1 million MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) circuit at Metro Sports Center in Lahug, Cebu City late Wednesday.

Dishing off a superb all-around game, the 13-year-old Alcala outworked his fellow national team-Victor mainstay in their exciting duel that lasted 47 minutes, adding the crown to his U-15 title he won for the fifth straight time, counting the four legs he swept in last year’s inaugural staging of the event sponsored by Goal Pilipinas.

The younger brother of the country’s leading player Malvinne Ann Alcala earlier disposed of No. 2 Patrick Gecosala, 21-12, 21-11, for the U-15 plum to match Bianca Carlos’ two-title romp in the event serving as the kickoff leg of a three-stage circuit put up by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay, chair Manny V. Pangilinan and sec-gen Albee Benitez.

The second leg will be played Oct. 27-31 in Manila while Cagayan de Oro will host the final stage on Nov. 30-Dec. 4, according to tournament director Nelson Asuncion.

Carlos of Golden Shuttle Foundation took the women’s Open and U-19 singles titles while Toby Gadi, also of GSF, dominated the men’s Open singles for his fifth straight crown in the event supported by official equipment sponsor Victor, exclusively distributed in the Phl by PCOME Industrial Sales, Inc.

Joper Escueta and Peter Gabriel Magnaye upset the top seeded pair of Ronel Estanislao and Paul Vivas, 21-11, 21-19, to bag the Open men’s doubles title while Gelita Castilo and Dia Magno turned back Jen Cayetano and Kim Mayono, 13-21, 21-19, 21-17, to cop the women’s Open doubles crown.

Gregg Paz and Cayetano repulsed Gabriel Villanueva and Deska Calimlim, 13-21, 21-18, 21-18, to win the Open mixed doubles plum.

Other winners in the event, backed by Gatorade, Krav Maga Phils., Sincere Construction and Development Corp., Vineza Industrial Sales, TV5 and Badminton Extreme Magazine, were Castilo-Magno (U-19 girls’ doubles); Carlos Cayanan-Gerald Sibayan (U-19 boys doubles); JC Clarito-Kristelle Salatan (U-19 mixed doubles); Jessie Francisco-Eleanor Inlayo (U-15 girls doubles); Fides Bagasbas-Emilio Mangubat Jr. (U-15 boys doubles); and Joaquin Deato-Inlayo (U-15 mixed doubles).