KATHLYN Bugna picked up right where she left off – in winning form – as she swept two titles to match Athena Liwag’s twin victories in the Puerto Princesa National Junior Tennis Championships at the Karawatan–La Paragua Sports Complex in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan last weekend.
Bugna, who took a well-deserved break after dominating various legs of the Palawan Pawnshop junior circuit in Pasig, Iloilo, Bacolod, Roxas, Kalibo, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu, marked her highly anticipated return by capturing the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under singles crowns.
The La Carlota City/Batang Onay ace overpowered Liwag, 6-1, 6-2, in the 16-and-U finals before routing top seed Claire Casiller, 6-1, 6-2, to claim the 18-and-U trophy in the weeklong tournament, part of the Palawan Pawnshop’s nationwide junior tennis circuit, spearheaded by president and CEO Bobby Castro, which continues to inspire young players to follow in the footsteps of international star Alex Eala.
Meanwhile, registration is ongoing for the Mayor Edwin Olivarez National Open Tennis Championships slated for Nov. 6-23 at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque.
Liwag, for her part, got the better of Bugna in the 14-and-U division, taking a 1-0 (ret.) win following a dominant 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Maria Calingasan in the 12-and-U finals. The rising Olongapo City standout thus matched Bugna’s two-title haul to share MVP honors.
In the boys’ division, Lipa City’s Rafa Monte de Ramos also shone with victories in both the 16-and-U and 18-and-U categories. He prevailed over Aljhon Rombawa via a 1-0 (ret.) win then blasted Nicholas Andal, 6-2, 6-1, in the centerpiece division of the tournament sanctioned by Philta and supported by Dunlop, Universal Tennis, and ICON Golf and Sports.
Balanga, Bataan’s Cristiano Calingasan ruled the boys’ 14-and-U division with a 6-1, 2-0 (ret.) victory over Enzo Masaga, while Quezon City’s Francis Angeles outlasted Diezel Lerit, 7-5, 6-3, to clinch the 12-and-U crown. Angeles completed a “twinkill” after also bagging the 10-and-U unisex title with a 4-2, 4-1 win over Matias Aguilera.
Bugna and Liwag added doubles titles to their tallies – Bugna teaming up with Sofia Aguilera for the girls’ 18-and-U crown, and Liwag pairing with Teresinha Calingasan to rule the 16-and-U event. Jeffrey Morales Jr. and Kyle Teodisio captured the boys’ 14-and-U doubles plum, while Cristiano Calingasan and Troan Vytiaco took the 18-and-U title.
In the men’s side, Sebastian Santos trounced Mingoy Calingasan, 8-2, to claim the singles championship before partnering with Andre Santos for an 8-4 victory over Monte de Ramos and Rombawa in the men’s doubles finals. Santos also teamed up with Rodel Ubay to bag the pro-am doubles crown.
Other winners were Legends (40-and-above): Anthony Josue & Paul Navarro; Legends (50-and-above): Nelvie Funtilon & Roger Ventura; Classified Men’s Doubles (Class B): Rhett Anas & Roger Ventura; Class C: Jaime Fernandez & Neribert Rausa; Class D: Michael Dela Torre & Oliver Dela Torre; and Classified Mixed Doubles: Mera Jopida & Raul Bacosa.
