Alcala top favorite in P1M VP Binay Badminton Open

TOP lady shuttler Malvinne Alcala carries the favorite tag in the P1 million VP Binay Grand Prix Badminton Open Championships-PBaRS 4th leg on 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 loss to the talented 16-year-old Alcala, ensuring 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 bids 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. Also on tap 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.  /Correspondent Jonas Panerio