Tenielle Madis hacked out a pair of victories in contrasting fashions, including a tense-filled 2-6, 6-3, 10-7 escape over fancied Minette Bentillo in the girls’ 14-and-under division to clinch the MVP honors in the PPS-PEPP Digos City regional age-group tennis tournament at the Digos City Tennis Courts recently.
The 12-year-old Mlang, Cotabato find’s reversal over the top seeded Bentillo from Sultan Kudarat came on the heels of her imposing 6-2, 6-1 triumph over Jillian Manangking in her age group as she emerged the lone “double” winner in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala and presented by Dunlop.
“As a regular campaigner in the circuit, Tenielle has developed her skills and boosted her confidence and whose work ethics should serve as inspiration to other young players aiming to make it big someday,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Angil Jay Balaoing, who scored a rare three-title feat in the previous PPS leg in Gen. Santos City, fell short of his bid this time, winning the boys’ 14-U title via a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over top seed Jude Padao but bowing in the 16- and 18-U finals of the event backed by Asiatraders Corp. and sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.
Meanwhile, action resumes on July 20 with the staging fo the PPS-PEPP Valle Verde Country Club National Age-Group in Pasig, a Group I UTP event. Listup is ongoing. For details, call PPS-PEPP Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
Local bet Padao got back at Balaoing in the 16-U title duel, scoring a 2-6, 0-5(ret.) win while second seed Mark Directo from Sultan Kudarat held off the Koronadal ace, 6-4, 6-3, in the 18-U finals.
Other winners were Bentillo, who thwarted Angelica Novis from Malita, 6-4, 6-3, in the 18-U championship but the latter toppled the former, 6-4, 6-4, to snare the 16-U diadem. Kabacan’s Reyman Saldivar Jr. crushed Charles Jumawan, 6-2, 6-2, for the boys’ 12-U plum while Kael Palo from Kidapawan took the 10-unisex crown with a 4-1, 2-4, 4-0 victory over Andre Mateo.
Novis, meanwhile, teamed up with Jemarie Manggarai and edged siblings Collene and Juliana Carvajal, 8-6, in the 18-U doubles finals with Andrei Padao and Victorio Selano taking the boys’ title via the same scoreline. Julina Carvajal and Manggarai combined in the 14-U finals to beat Ayessa Dino and Manangking, while Jason Flores and Jamal Kadil routed Dominic Cameros and Lyndon Leocario, 8-1, for the boys’ plum. Shaun Globasa and Alexavier Uy ruled the 10-unisex side with an 8-1 romp over Jhonel Maldo and Clan Ramirez.