Young Alcala eyes spot in national team

MANILA, Philippines - Young Filipino badminton sensation Mark Shelly Alcala and his teammates in the Allied Victory Badminton Club will smash it out in the Prima Pasta Badminton Championship slated Feb. 28-March 1 at the Power Smash in Makati.

The 15-year-old Marky, son of former national badminton coach Malvin Alcala and protégé of business icon and former national singles and doubles champion Conrado Co, will try to maintain his winning streak in local open singles competitions.

The young Alcala made waves in tournaments here and abroad by beating a member of the national team Smash Pilipinas more than once and posting a phenomenal victory in the junior division of last year’s Singapore Junior International Badminton Championships.

The major victories inspired him to scale greater heights in hopes of gaining a place in the national team.

“Marky is a top players in his class. He is a gem of an athlete at his young age and a force to reckon with against the best players locally and internationally,” Allied-Victor team manager Pacita Co said.

Aside from Marky,  younger brother of Philippines’ former No. 1 woman shuttler Malvinne Ann Venice “Poca” Alcala, other Allied–Victor players who will show their wares in the Prima Pasta tiff are Gelita Castilo, Kevin Alfred Dalisay, Pauline Tan, Mary Ann Maranon, Paola Beatriz Bernardo, Ethan Joshua Malelang, Lorenzo Miguel Leonardo and members of the UAAP badminton champion University of the Philippines.

“My aim is to win big at Prima Pasta, one of the barometers in my ambition to be a national player. I love to represent our country in international competitions. I’m optimistic that I can contribute honors and pride to our people given the proper break. My wish is to be guided and mentored by my father-coach during training and actual matches,” said the young Alcala, who also won two Toby’s junior titles – U-17 and U-19 – last year.