MARKIE Alcala underlined his intent to become the next big thing in the country’s badminton scene as he ruled the boys’ Under-15 singles division of the P 1 million MVP Sports Foundation-Bingo Bonanza Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) tournament for the third straight time at the Wheels ‘N More courts in Davao City last Wednesday.
Alcala, the 13-year-old brother of the country’s leading women’s player Malvinne, bucked a second set setback with a convincing win in the decider to complete a 21-16, 20-22, 21-14 victory over Alvin Morada, whom he also toppled in the finals of the first two legs of the four-stage nationwide circuit in Manila and Bacolod.
The Allied/Victor mainstay actually tried out in the tougher U-19 category but proved too young and dropped a 20-22, 21-10, 21-11 decision to joint third-seed Jason Oba-ob in the second round.
Still, Alcala’s repeat win in the U-15 side worth P10,000 put him alongside Antonino Gadi and Bianca Carlos as three-peat winners in the circuit.
Gadi foiled Paul Vivas for the second straight time, 19-21, 21-12, 21-14, in the men’s Open finals, while Carlos dominated Janelle de Vera, 21-16, 21-15, to reign again in the girls’ U-19 division of the event backed by official equipment sponsor Victor, exclusively distributed by PCOME Industrial Sales Inc.
Gelita Castilo, meanwhile, emerged the winningest player in the five-day event with three victories, including the women’s Open singles and the twin doubles plums in the U-19 and Open classes with regular partner Dia Magno.
The duo bested Patricia Barredo and Janelle de Vera, 21-16, 21-17, in the U-19 finals, and took home P20,000 then repulsed Ginalee Daymiel and Jocelyn Monteverde, 21-11, 23-21, in the Open class worth a whopping P70,000. Correspondent Jonas Panerio