Alcala starts National Open badminton title bid with win

MANILA, Philippines – Allied Victor's Malvinne "Poca" Alcala got off to a strong start after she breezed past Ateneo's Dia Nicole Magno, 21-9, 21-7, in Thursday's start of the P1.5 million Bingo Bonanza National Open badminton tournament at the Rizal Badminton Center.

Alcala, unseeded here as she has been busy participating in the international circuit to gain Olympic ranking points, was unforgiving against Magno to hammer out the win that served notice of her bid to win the women's title.

The 19-year-old former Singapore and Australian Juniors champion thus forged a second round showdown with Adamson's Mika Aquino, who drew a first round bye in this four-day ranking championship sponsored by Bingo Bonanza Corp.

Alcala's Allied Victor teammate Gelita Castilo likewise advanced to the next round after routing Golden Shuttle Foundation's Samantha Ramos, 21-10, 21-6, while Smash Pilipinas' Alyssa Geverjuan turned back Ateneo's Cassandra Lim, 21-19, 21-17.

Ateneo's Patrisha Malibiran stole the thunder from the favorites after she brought down Smash Pilipinas' Mariya Anghela Sevilla with a gripping come-from-behind 19-21, 21-14, 21-18 win.

Team Prima's Annelyn Alba walloped Adamson's Jhay Anne Macabenta, 21-12, 21-9; Ateneo's Janel Adrianne Dihiansan smashed Allied Victor's Bettina Felipe, 21-5, 21-9; Adamson's Christine Garin downed Maria Therese Tumbali, 21-13, 21-18l Ateneo's Shawntel Nicole Nieto trounced Allied Victor's Alexandrea Kyla Lim, 21-15, 21-17; and Ateneo's Samantha Santos outlasted GSF's Kristina Tan, 15-21, 21-14, 21-12.

Smash Pilipinas' Sarah Joy Bernardo, Monica Arianne Rivera and Airah Mae Nicole Albo and Allied Victor's Pauline Marie Tan all advanced to the next round after drawing opening round byes in this tournament sanctioned by the Phl Badminton Association headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay and secretery-general Rep. Albee Benitez and organized by EventKing Corp.

In men's action, Allied Victor Jon Jelson Masongsong slammed Adamson's Johnrick Macabenta, 21-7, 21-12, and then was a beneficiary of top seed Antonio Benjamin Gadi's withdrawal to become the first man into the round-of-16.

Far Eastern University's Vince Vaslee Lagnada joined Masongsong there after a walkover win over Escoses Training Camp's John Navarro and last minute withdrawal of fourth pick Ros Leenard Pedrosa of Smash Pilipinas.

Allied Victor Mark Shelley Alcala survived a second set challenge by Team Prima's Neil Andrew Pineda, 21-3, 21-17, to set up a duel with FEU's Josh Mark Maquelabit, who drew a first round bye.

Other men's singles second round qualifiers were Ateneo's Clarence Filart, who bested Team Prima's Benjamin Silva, 21-17, 25-23, Allied Victor's Carl Kristian Clemente, who defeated Royal K/Theresian BTC's Matthew Tumbali, 21-6, 21-18; Adamson's Jerome Pechera, who turned back University of the East's Arman Joseph Manlalangit, 22-20, 21-13; Ateneo's Carlo Remo,  who outclassed Adamson's Beam Cabilan, 21-10, 21-13; Team Prima's Chris Sanchez, who survived Allied Victor's Earl Christian Guevarra, 21-19, 19-21, 21-12.

Smash Pilipinas' Emilio Mangubat, Jr., who routed Adamson's Karl Zamoranos, 21-9, 21-8; Malabon's Akishiete Hilario, who eked out a 21-15, 16-21, 21-14 win over Team Prima's Zeus Ignacio, UST's John Paul Yabut, who waylaid AIG's Dave Lemette, 21-4, 21-12; Escoses' Adrian Ramos, who edged Ateneo's Patrick Gecosala,  19-21, 21-11, 23-21; Adamson's John Bergantin, who blasted Malabon's Alberto Hilario, 21-15, 21-13;

Smash Pilipinas' Alexis Geverjuan, who sideswiped Team Prima's Mark Magboo, 21-15, 21-17; Allied's Gerald Sibayan, who beat Team Prima's Jose Carlos Benipayo, 21-17, 21-19; Allied's Garreth Dizer, who outclassed Royal's Macky McEldie Tumbali, 21-3, 21-2; Yappies Smashers' JC Clarito, who smothered Team Prima's Kevin Fabros, 21-9, 21-14; Allied's Ethan Joshua Malelang, who flattened Buddy Shot Club of Puerto Princesa's Rey Gilongos, 21-15, 21-9;

Allied's EJ Viloria, who hammered Chrsitian Torres, 24-22, 21-16; Allied's Lance Erickson Bautista, who bashed Adamson's Gerloth Delizo, 21-14, 21-15; Smash's Frell Keeyan Gabuelo, who sneaked past Team Prima's Orlan Ticala, 22-20, 21-11; and Ateneo's Kyle Gosiaco, a 21-14, 19-21, 21-15 winner over UST's Jan Mark Sotea.