Local ace Janus Ringia and Ma. Angelica Novis posted a victory and a runner-up finish each in their respective sides as they led the winners in the Palawan Pawnshop Regional age-group tennis tournament Koronadal leg at Koronadal Sports Complex in South Cotabato yesterday.
The third-seeded Ringia stopped Jonrich Colina, 6-0, 6-1, in the semifinals then thwarted Fourth Bagaforo, 6-2, 7-5, in the finals to capture the boys’ 18-and-under crown in the four-day, Group 3 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and hosted by Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes.
Jarell Edangga from Surallah, South Cotabato, however, foiled Ringia’s double title bid as the eighth-ranked bet hacked out a 7-5, 2-6, 8-6 (ret.) win to snare the 16-U title.
Novis, from Malita, also pulled off a tough 7-6 (7), 4-6, 6-4 decision over top seed April Bentillo to pocket the girls’ 12-U diadem.
But Bentillo, one of the top junior players from Sultan Kudarat, got back at Novis and copped the 14-U plum with a 7-5, 6-4 victory.
“With no one winning two titles plus a couple of reversals only underscored the level playing field and this is what the Palawan Pawnshop circuit is all about—to discover more and more talents, especially in the countryside,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.