Veteran internationalists end RP hopes in Bingo Bonanza badminton

MANILA, Philippines – A Chinese and an Indonesian pair dashed all hopes for a possible podium finish by any local bet in the Bingo Bonanza Philippine Grand Prix Badminton Championships. Thirteen-year-old Malvinne Ann Venice Alcala, who stirred the hopes of local badminton fans for a possible semifinal appearance, lost to her Chinese foe while the pair of Kelvin Panganiban and Gabriel Villanueva experienced the same fate against their more skilled opponents. Alcala was just no match against world No. 13 and tournament fourth seed Jiang Yanjiao as the Chinese bet cruised to a 21-5, 21-16 win in their quarterfinal match while Panganiban and Villanueva were dominated by Indonesian top seeds Mohammad Ahsan and Bona Septano, 21-8, 21-9, in their men's doubles Last 8 contest at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. A big crowd, which braved the afternoon rain, supported Alcala against the veteran internationalist Jiang, who topped the women’s singles competitions in the Busan Asian Games, China Open and Asian Continental tournament. But Alcala, suffering from a runny nose, was clearly not in the same league as her opponent yielding the last seven points on unforced errors. Despite their quarterfinal defeat, the three Filipino players became the Philippines’ best placed finishers in the $120,000 tournament which gives world ranking points. As of this posting, 13 other Chinese are still vying for semis spots, while the Indonesians have nine quarterfinalists. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV