Barredo, Alcala snare Bingo Bonanza crowns

MANILA, Philippines - Sarah Barredo staked her claim as the country’s top shuttler while young Mark Alcala continued to stamp his class in the men’s side as they copped the Open singles crowns in the Bingo Bonanza National Open Badminton Tournament at Glorietta 5 Atrium in Makati City yesterday.

Barredo recovered from an erratic start with a dominant performance in the second set then turned what had been expected as a thriller of a decider into a runaway triumph behind crisp smashes and clever drop shots, yielding just six points in the third to post a 15-21, 21-16, 21-6 scoreline.

The 50-minute romp primed up the PBA-Smash Pilipinas standout for another big tournament this week where Barredo is eyeing to complete a sweep of this year’s major Open women’s singles titles, counting her triumph in the recent FDG Cup.

Barredo took the P100,000 purse while Albo settled for P60,000 in the tournament sponsored by Bingo Bonanza and sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and sec-gen Rep. Albee Benitez.

Alcala, on the other hand, bucked the top seeded Kevin Cudiamat’s challenge and went on to pound out a 21-14, 21-17 victory to clinch the men’s singles diadem in the top ranking tournament backed by official equipment Victor PCOME and official sports drink Gatorade.

It was another convincing win for the 16-year-old Alcala, who has been dominating men’s badminton with his quickness, power and class, humbling even the most veterans in the fold.

His straight-set, 33-minute victory over Cudiamat, also worth P100,000, thus capped the top Allied-NVBA bet’s superb showing in the event which he ruled without dropping a set. Drawing a bye in the lower half of the full-packed draw, Alcala eased out Emilio Mangubat Jr., 21-16, 21-10; beat Alexis Geverjuan, 21-17, 21-10, trounced Alvin Morada, 21-12, 21-11, in the quarters before whipping R-Jay Ormilla, 21-17, 21-12, in the Final Four.

Ronel Estanislao and Indonesian partner Marissa Vita overwhelmed the second-seeded Alvin Morada-Alyssa Leonardo tandem and came away with an imposing 21-17, 21-15 victory to capture the Open mixed doubles crown in the event backed by official equipment Victor PCOME and official sports drink Gatorade.

Estanislao and Vita pocketed the top P120,000 purse with Morada and Leonardo settling for P72,000. Albo and Cudiamat also received P60,000 each.

Disputing the other doubles crowns, including P120,000 purse, at presstime are Indonesians Keshya Hanadia and Vita against Leonardo and Thea Pomar (women’s) and Joper Escueta and Ronel Estanislao against Peter Magnaye and Paul Vivas (men’s).