Sydney Enriquez played true to form and racked up two titles while Kurt Haro grabbed the spotlight in boys’ singles as they shared top honors in the PPS-PEPP Gen San National age group tennis tournament at the GenSan City Tennis Club last Sunday.
The top-seeded Enriquez stopped unranked doubles partner Kyle Rivera twice, scoring a 6-3, 6-1 romp in the girls’ 16-and-under finals then running away with the 18-U plum via a 6-0, 6-2 victory in the Group 2 tournament which kicked off the six-leg Mindanao swing of the circuit sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop.
The fourth-ranked Haro, on the other hand, survived unseeded EJ Sta. Maria, hacking out a 6-7(3), 6-4, 10-8 decision to snare the 16-U plum. But the rising Davaoeño star failed to match Enriquez’s feat as he retired against top seed Bruce Hurtado from Koronadal and yielded the 18-U crown in the five-day tournament presented by Dunlop.
“We may see more of Enriquez and Haro’s exploits in the next stops of the Mindanao swing but we also expect new faces to emerge as we continue to provide the venue for these young players who could be the country’s next tennis stars,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Other winners in the event sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg were siblings John and Mae Melendres from Polomolok, South Cotabato; Andre Mateo from Tupi, Cotabato; local bet Rey Napala; and Sarangani’s Sheloh Ripdos.
John Melendres upended third seed Emmanuel Florida, 5-4(3), 4-0, to claim the 10-unisex title; Mae stunned No. 2 Merrycris Cordova, 6-4, 6-4, for the girls’ 12-U plum; Mateo ripped Vanz Abecia, 6-4, 6-0, for the boys’ 12-U title; Napala edged Yassan Al Anazi, 7-6(10), 7-5, for the boys’ 14-U diadem; and Ripdos scored a 6-2(ret.) win over Sandra Mosqueda for the girls’ 14-U title.
Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
Enriquez actually came away with three titles, including the 18-U doubles crown she won with Rivera via an 8-0 rout of Trisha Diaz and Princess Haro. Kurt Haro also took the 18-U title with Hurtado after beating Jorento Balonga Jr. and Sta. Maria, 8-1. Other doubles winners were Ripdos-Sanchena Francisco, and Heirarchy Labandero-Mateo (14-U), and John Melendres-Ella Rogan (10-U). “‹