DESPITE being hobbled by stomach ailments, siblings Mark and Malvinne Alcala played their guts out to rule their respective divisions at the MVP Sports Foundation-PBaRs tournament on Wednesday at Robinson’s Place Manila.
Fourteen-year old Mark Shelley Alcala shattered top seed Toby Gadi’s cloak of invincibility, pulling off a shocking 21-14, 21-12 upset of the seven-time Open men’s singles division champion.
Suffering from a bum stomach, Alcala managed to outplay the more experienced Gadi in the finale, battling shot for shot and getting the better of the exchanges en route to fashioning out the biggest upset of the tournament.
“Buti natiyaga ko,” said Alcala, who had to take medicine and large amounts of hydration fluids just before he took the court against Gadi.
“Hindi ko na rin iniisip yung hilab ng tyan dahil naka-focus ako sa laro", said Alcala who was competing in the men’s open for only the second time in his career.
“No-pressure mentality lang ako coming to the game. Okay lang din kung matalo, just do your best lang,” said the teener, who spoiled fellow PH team bet Gadi’s bid for an eighth straight open diadem.
Mark actually scored a twinkill as he also captured the boys singles U-19 crown at the expense of Golden Shuttle Foundation’s Nicole Clarence Filart, 21-13, 21-18 prior to his showdown with Gadi.
Alcala’s elder sister Malvinne Anne also bucked a bum stomach and pulled through against Under-19 rival Bianca Carlos, snatching the Open women’s singles crown 21-18, 21-16, and completing the Alcalas’ sweep of the centerpiece Open division.
“Pinilit ko lang talaga. Wala akong masyadong expectation dahil sa condition ko, basta lalaban lang ako. Nataon naman na sinwerte,” said the PH team stalwart known as 'Poca,' who was supposed to have been admitted for treatment on the eve of the finals but persisted on just taking oral hydration.
Carlos later got back on the winning track as she nipped fellow GSF bet Patrisha Malibiran, 21-14, 21-14, for the U19 girls singles title.
In other results, second seed Mariya Anghela Sevilla upstaged top-ranked Alyssa Geverjuan, 16-21, 21-12, 21-12, in an all-PH team battle for the U15 girls singles crown; GSF’s Gelita Castilo and Dia Nicole Magno defeated La Salle’s Danica Bolos and Philippine STAR’s Descka Calimlim, 21-18, 21-15, for the open women’s doubles plum;
University of the East’s Arman Manlalangit and Woodrose School’s Marina Caculitan trounced Whackers Badminton Academy’s Emilio Mangubat Jr. and Janelle Gloriane de Vera, 21-9, 21-15, for the U19 mixed doubles title; and Phl team’s Louis Joaquin Pangilinan beat Team JB’s Jourele Antonio, 19-21, 21-9, 21-13, for the U15 boys singles crown.
The tournament was sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay with sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan as chairman and Rep. Albee Benitez as secretary- general. The event is also backed by the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine Sports Commission, the PBA and official equipment sponsor Victor.
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