TOP SHUTTLERS, led by siblings Malvinne and Mark Alcala, showcase their talents as favorites in the P1.5 million Bingo Bonanza National Open which blasts off today at Rizal Memorial Badminton Center.
Mark Alcala, winner of the recent Singapore Youth event, will battle Neil Pineda in the featured morning match in the men’s singles, while his Allied Victor teammate Jon Masongson slugs it out with Adamson’s Johnrick Macabenta.
Alcala’s sister Malvinne will face Ateneo’s Dia Magno.
Though unseeded in the event, Malvinne, fondly called “Poca,” is fancied to rule the event. The winner in the Alcala-Magno duel will take on Mika Aquino of Adamson who took a bye to the next round.
Men’s singles top seed Toby Gadi will see action later in the afternoon against either Masongson or Macabenta. Ateneo’s Clarence Filart clashes with Benjamin Silva of Team Prima with the winner facing No. 8 seed Wilson Lopez.
Winners in the tournament, sponsored by Bingo Bonanza Corp., will get ranking points in the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay.
PBA secretary general, Rep. Albee Benitez, said the association has shifted its focus on holding national-level competitions to develop players for international tournaments.
Another favorite in women’s singles, Gelita Castillo of Allied Victor, collides with Sam Ramos of Golden Shuttle Foundation.
Also matched in the opening round pit Cassandra Lim against Smash Pilipinas’ Alyssa Geverjuan; Parisha Malibiran of Ateneo against Smash Pilipinas’ Mariya Sevilla, and Adamson’s Jhay Anne Macabenta versus Team Prima’s Annelyn Alba.
The men’s doubles matches will send the country’s top pair of Peter Magnaye and Paul Vivas against the winner between Lance Bautista-Judd Reyes and Mike Minuluan-Alem Palmares.
Mark Alcala and Theodore Co will face Jaime Junio and Anngy Sepdianto. The winner will advance against top seeds Joper Escueta and Ronel Estanislao.