Ailing Alcalas sweep PBaRs titles

MANILA, Philippines - Not even illness could stop the Alcalas’ rampage in the Manila leg of the 2013 MVP Sports Foundation-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRs) as Mark Shelley and Malvinne  Anne Alcala swept the open titles with dramatic victories in yesterday’s finals at Robinsons Place Manila.

Mark Shelley, 14, pulled the rug from under heavy favorite and seven-time champion Toby Gadi, 21-14, 21-12, to cop the men’s plum while elder sister Malvinne Anne ruled the women’s side via a 21-18, 21-16 victory over Bianca Carlos, both overcoming diarrhea in pulling off the hard-earned victories.

Despite a bum stomach, Alcala outsteadied the more experienced Gadi and got the better of the exchanges en route to fashioning out the biggest upset of the tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay with sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan as chairman and Rep. Albee Benitez as sec-gen.

“Buti natiyaga ko (I persevered and was thankfully rewarded),” said Alcala, who had to take medicine and lots of hydration fluid just before he took the court against Gadi. “Hindi ko na rin iniisip yung hilab ng tyan dahil naka-focus ako sa laro ( I just didn’t mind the pain as I was focused on the game at hand).”

Alcala was competing in the men’s open for only the second time in his career and surprisingly struck this soon.

“No pressure mentality lang ako coming to the game. Okay lang din kung matalo, just do your best lang (I took a nothing to lose mentality so I won’t feel pressure),” said the teener, who spoiled fellow Phl team bet Gadi’s bid for an eighth straight open diadem. 

Alcala’s elder sister also bucked a bum stomach and pulled through against Under-19 tormentor Bianca Carlos, snatching the Open women’s singles crown via a 21-18, 21-16 verdict, and completing the Alcalas’ sweep of the centerpiece Open division of the event backed by the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine Sports Commission, the PBA and official equipment sponsor Victor, exclusively distributed in the country by PCOME Industrial Sales, Inc.

Mark Alcala 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.

 â€œPinilit ko lang talaga. Wala akong masyadong expectation dahil sa condition ko, basta lalaban lang ako. Nataon naman na sinwerte,” said Phl team stalwart fondly 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.