JOHN David Velez bucked the odds, including top seed Bruce Hurtado in the boys’ 18-and-under finals, to complete a rare three-title romp in the Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Mlang regional tennis tournament at the Mlang Tennis Club in Cotabato last weekend.
The 14-year-old star from Davao sustained his fierce form coming off straight-set victories in his age-group and in the 16-U finals, stunning doubles partner Hurtado with his baseline game and superb recoveries to hack out a thrilling 7-6(5), 4-6, 11-9 triumph in the centerpiece event.
The Precious International School of Davao mainstay actually held off Hurtado, 6-4, 6-3, in their earlier face-off in the 16-U finals after clobbering Andrei Padao, 6-1, 6-1, for 14-U title in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro and presented by Slazenger.
Local ace Jazzelle Madis also claimed two victories in the girls’ side, mastering doubles partner Minette Bentillo, 6-3, 6-3, in the 16-U championship and 6-1, 6-1, in the 18-U finals of the event backed by the Unified Tennis Group, composed of Cebuana Lhuillier, PPS-PEPP, Wilson, Toby’s, BMeg, Citigreen, Babolat and Tru-Flex.
Younger sister Tennielle Madis also pulled off a pair of wins, crushing Jose Cabanting, 4-0, 4-0, for the 10-unisex crown and repulsing Jillian Manangking, 6-4, 1-6, 10-7, in the 12-U finals.
Bentillo, from Sultan Kudarat, made up for her twin losses to Jazzelle Madis by taking the 14-U crown via a 6-2, 6-0 romp over Manangking while Andrei Padao from Digos City took the boys’ 12-U diadem with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Cedric Pamplona.
Velez actually made it a four-title feat as he teamed up with Hurtado to edge Ronnel Aboy and Basser Ali and pocket the 18-U doubles plum while Madis and Bentillo routed Jorhaine Alon and Joanne Gornes, 8-1, to clinch the girls crown.
Other doubles winners were Padao and Pamplona (boys’ 14-U), Daniela Dandalanin and Manangking (girls’ 14-U), Josh Cabanting and Jason Flores (10-unisex).
Meanwhile, action in the country’s premier age-grouper resumes tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 21) in Pikit, Cotabato with practically the same Mlang field clashing for top honors in nine categories in singles and five in doubles. For details, call PPS-PEPP sports program development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.