MATTHEW Morris and Danica Diamante showcased exceptional form at the Lapu-Lapu City National Junior Championships, clinching two titles each and earning MVP honors in Cebu last Sunday.
Ranked fourth, Morris displayed grit as he stunned second seed Gil Niere, 6-2, 6-0 in the 14-and-under semifinals before overpowering Claudwin Toñacao 6-2, 6-2, to claim the boys’ crown. The Dumaguete City native then dominated his top-seeded 16-and-U category, dropping just four games across four matches, capping his title romp with a 6-3, 6-0 victory against Anthony Espinosa.
Meanwhile, Tuburan’s Diamante defeated two top seeds en route to her dual titles in the girls’ category. She triumphed over Amanda Barrido, 6-4, 6-2, in the 12-and-U finals, and later outplayed Molly Tan, 6-2, 6-4, to win the 14-and-U championship.
Homegrown talent Chad Cuizon thrilled local fans, pulling off a stunning upset against top seed RB John Lataza, 6-4, 6-2, to win the boys’ 18-and-U crown in the five-day, Group 2 tournament hosted by Rep. Cindi Chan and Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan in their continuing effort to develop tennis in the region.
Molly Tan from Leyte, after defeating No. 1 seed Davanee Velasco in the semis, cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Angel Tojeno in the final of the centerpiece 18-and-U division of the event, which served as part of the national PPS-PEPP circuit led by Palawan Pawnshop’s Bobby Castro.
In other results, Enzo Niere from Bogo City clinched the 10-and-U unisex title, defeating Niño Lambating 4-0, 4-2; Claudwin Toñacao, also from Bogo City, rebounded in the boys’ 12-and-U final, repulsing James Estrella, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2; while Amanda Barrido from Antipolo City captured the girls’ 16-and-U crown with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Tojeno.
In doubles, Dale Diamante and Enzo Niere prevailed, 8-3, over Marius Go and Nino Lambating in the 10-and-U unisex final; Morris and Espinosa, and Danica Diamante and Tan captured the 14-and-U doubles titles over Gil Niere and Chris Villarin, 8-2, and over Barrido and Caitlyn Cuizon, 8-5.
Chad Cuizon and Lataza, and Tojeno and Joannamarie Vasquez secured 18-and-U title via similar scorelines of 8-5 over Matthew Lambating and Cyril Paster, and Lisbeth and Caitlyn Cuizon, respectively, in the tournament sanctioned by Philta and supported by Universal Tennis Ranking and ICON Golf & Sports.
