John David Velez and Alexa Milliam put on another dominant show and racked up three titles each to share the MVP honors in the PPS-PEPP El Kapitan-Argao national age-group tennis tournament at the El Kapitan-LGU Outdoor Tennis Courts in Argao, Cebu last Monday.
Velez, 14, ruled his age group with a 1-0(ret.) win over Chad Cuizon then the rising Davaoeño star upended Venz Alforque twice to clinch the 16- and 18-and-under titles via 6-3, 7-6(4) and 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 victories, respectively.
Milliam, from Pontevedra, Negros, trounced Mia Gemida, 6-4, 6-2, in the 14-U finals, foiled Ashley McKenzie, 7-6(5), 6-0, in the 16-U championship, and thwarted doubles partner Sydney Enriquez, 6-3, 6-3, for the 18-U diadem in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by El Kapitan Resort and Wilfredo Albarracin.
Their victories came on the heels of their equally impressive three-title feats in Dumaguete last week, making the PPS-PEPP MAC’s Crankit aces the hottest players in the circuit put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala and presented by Dunlop.
“Hard work and work ethics are paying off for these two young aces, who have been dominating not only their age group but also the higher divisions,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Meanwhile, La Carlota City in Negros Occidental will stage the next PPS-PEPP stop on Oct. 24-28 while San Carlos City will hold the Pintaflores Festival on Oct. 29-Nov. 5. Listup is ongoing. For details, call PPS-PEPP Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
Milliam and Enriquez later took the 18-U doubles title with an 8-4 victory over siblings Ashley and Khymberly Mc Kenzie, 8-4.
Other singles winners were Louise Paliwag and Mitch Largo (12-U) with the former notching her second title via 4-5(4), 4-0, 4-2 reversal over top seed Kevin Tabura in the 10-unisex finals of the event sanctioned by Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg. The other doubles winners were Cedric Bravo and Lemuel Garbosa (boys’ 14-U), Mia Gemida and Sheynna Yu (girls’ 14-U) and Josh Largo and Eric Longakit (10-unisex).