Alcala, Muljati top Smart National Open badminton

MANILA, Philippines - Mark Alcala re-asserted his mastery over top seed Kevin Cudiamat, pulling off a 21-8, 21-19 victory to successfully defend his men’s singles crown in the Smart National Open Badminton Tournament 2015 at the Powersmash Badminton Center in Makati City over the weekend.

The second-seeded Alcala dominated the opening set but went through some anxious moments in the next before completing another straight-victory over Cudiamat, whom he also nipped, 21-17, 17-21, 21-14, in last year’s finale.

Alcala also swept Cudiamat to win the Bingo Bonanza National Open diadem two weeks ago.

The top Allied-NVBA bet trounced Ateneo’s Sulton Al Hakim, 21-11, 21-15, in the semis while Cudiamat turned back Smash Pilipinas teammate No. 9 Frell Keeyan Gabuelo, 21-12, 21-19.

Indonesian Jessica Muljati of Bingo Bonanza, meanwhile, dethroned last year’s champion and fellow Bingo Bonanza mainstay Lili Wang of China, 21-19, 21-10, to emerge the new women’s singles champion in the event backed by Sun Cellular, MVP Sports Foundation, Victor exclusively distributed by PCome Industrial Sales, Powersmash Badminton Center and Robinsons Place Manila.

Muljati also brought down last year’s runner-up and recently crowned Bingo Bonanza Open champion Sarah Joy Barredo, 22-20, 21-18, in the semis.

Wang saved her day by teaming up with Aires Montilla of Team Prima-La Salle and defeating the top-seeded pair of Jessie Francisco and Eleanor Christine Inlayo of Smash Pilipinas, 21-8, 21-13, to snare the women’s doubles plum.

The Wang-Montilla tandem also unseated last year’s title-holders Malvinne Ann Alcala and Gelita Aquino Castillo with a 21-16, 21-19 triumph in the semis.

In men’s doubles, Philip Joper Escueta and Ronel Estanislao of Smash Pilipinas lived up to their top billing as they edged last year’s winners Peter Gabriel Magnaye and Paul Jefferson Vivas with a pulsating 21-19, 14-21, 21-16 win.

Magnaye made up for the loss by teaming up with Jessie Francisco in beating Alvin Morada and Alyssa Ysabel Leonardo, 20-22, 21-14, 21-14, for the mixed doubles gold.