Favorites dominate Palawan tennis
JANUS Ringia and Patricia Velez came away with two titles each as the fancied bets ruled the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis held at Gen. Santos City Tennis Club Monday.
The top-seeded Ringia, one of the rising stars from Koronadal, survived No. 2 Vince Tugade, 6-1, 5-7, 10-7, to cop the boys’ 14-and-under crown. He then overpowered Klyde Lagarde, 6-0, 6-2, for the 16-U title in the event presented by official ball Technifibre.
The top-ranked Velez, on the other hand, trounced Danna Abad, 6-2, 6-3, to pocket the girls’ 16-U plum before the Davaoeña ace, as the No. 2 seed, nailed the premier 18-U diadem when top seed Nicole Bautista retired after Velez took the first set, 6-3.
“We will continue to support young players by providing them year-round ranking tournaments,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.
Abad, also from Davao, took the 14-U crown as she fashioned out an easy 6-0, 6-0 romp over top seed and Sultan Kudarat bet Minette Bentillo, who earlier bagged the 12-U finals.
Action shifts to M’lang, Cotabato beginning Friday
OTHER WINNERS: Jarel Edangga, boys’ 18-U; David Velez, girls’ 12-U; Cedric Pamplona, 10-U unisex
