Tugade, Velez dominate Palawan netfest
LOCAL ace Vince EJ Tugade and Davao’s Patricia Velez pulled off a pair of victories each yesterday to dominate the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala age group presented by Technifibre at Isulan Capitol Tennis Club in Sultan Kudarat.
Tugade, ranked second in the boys’ 16-and-under division, stunned top seed Janus Ringia, 2-6, 6-4, 10-7, in the finals, then thwarted Klyde Lagarde, 7-5, 6-1, to bag the 14-U title in the Group 3 event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.
The second-seeded Velez upended No. 1 Carlyn Guarde, 3-6, 7-5, 10-7, for the girls’ 16-U plum, then turned back top seed Nicole Bautista, 6-3, 7-5, to annex the 18-U title in the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop.
Ringia redeemed himself in the 16-U finals, beating Lordrens Pacheco, 6-1, 7-5. Davao’s John David Velez completed his domination of the 12-U play by trouncing JV Comendador, 6-1, 6-0, while Cedric Pamplona took the 10-unisex title with a 3-5, 5-3, 10-5 decision over Tenielle Madis.
Guarde also atoned for her 16-U setback by winning the 14-U title with a 6-3, 7-6(5) victory over Danna Abad. Minette April Bentillo routed Madis, 6-1, 6-1, to claim the 12-U plum.
