Osward Hernandez stunned top seed Jolo Basa, 6-4, 7-5, to snare the boys’ 18-and-under crown while Zia Arcangel ruled the girls’ premier side in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Legazpi leg regional tournament at Lignon and DPWH Tennis Club in Albay over the weekend. The second-seeded Hernandez bested Francis Ibones in the second round then disposed of Kevin Madrin in two before subduing Basa. Arcangel downed Monica Fortuna twice, 6-4, 6-2, in the 16-U finals and 6-0, 6-1 in the 18-U to share MVP honors with Hernandez.
Xterra champions Weiss, Wasle to defend titles
South African Bradley Weiss and Carina Wasle of Austria will try to keep their crowns in the Xterra off road triathlon unfolding April 22 in Danao, Cebu. Weiss flashed excellent mountain-biking skills on his way to ruling the 1.5K swim-40K mountain bike-10K trail run event last year. The 29-year-old from Stellenbosch is actually gunning for a three-peat after likewise lording it over in Albay in 2016. Wasle ended two previous heartbreakers by beating Australian Penny Slater by almost 30 minutes.