Alcala expected to crowd faves

Malvinne Alcala, perhaps the finest player to come out of the local ranks since Weena Lim and Kennie Asuncion, has confirmed her participation in the P1.5-million Bingo Bonanza National Open badminton tournament that fires off tomorrow at Rizal Memorial Badminton Center in Manila.

A former Singapore and Australian Juniors champion, Alcala is tipped to crowd the top-ranked bets in the women’s singles owing to her form, guaranteeing slam-bang action in the centerpiece event of the four-day event.

But since she’s been busy campaigning abroad seeking ranking points for a crack at the Olympics, Alcala has not been seeded in the women’s singles where Aira Nicole Albo, Sarah Joy Barredo, Pauline Tan and Monica Rivera occupy the top seeds.

Veteran Gelita Castilo, Alcala’s teammate at Allied Victor, is also in the fold along with Samantha Ramos, Allysa Geverjuan, Mariya Sevilla, Cassandra Lim, Janelle de Vera and Dia Magno, Kristina Tan and Samantha Santos.

Many-time champion Toby Gadi, meanwhile, banners the 64-player field in the men’s singles with the Smash Pilipinas mainstay expected to be challenged for the title by No. 2 Kevin Cudiamat, No. 3 Jayson Oba-ob, No. 4 Ros Pedrosa and fifth seed R-Jay Ormilla.