Pete Bandala finally hit paydirt after a pair of strong finishes in Zamboanga Del Norte, upending top seed Wyn Sanchez in the 10-unisex finals to share the spotlight with a streaking Sydney Enriquez in the PPS-PEPP Kapatagan age group tennis tournament in Lanao del Norte last Monday.
Bandala, who lost to Sanchez in the semis of the Salug leg and in the finals of the Sindangan stop of the three-stage Zambo del Norte swing last month, got back at his tormentor with a gutsy 4-2, 1-4, 10-7 victory to claim his first championship in the Group 2 tournament put up by Palawan Pawnshop Palawan Express Pera Padala.
The eight-year-old wonder from Dipolog City later teamed up with Theo Sanchez to thwart Marlyn Mesiona and Vincent Nadal, 8-5, in the 10-U doubles of the event presented by Dunlop.
“This kid has potential and it’s inspiring to see him toughening up following setbacks and winning in the circuit put up for young players like him,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Meanwhile, Maranding will host the third and last Lanao leg on Sept. 28-Oct. 1. Listup is ongoing. For details, call PPS-PEPP Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
Enriquez added the 16- and 18-U titles to her trophy collection while Judy Ann Padilla matched that two-title feat to share MVP honors in the event sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines and hosted by Byron John Atay and Kapatagan LGUs.
Enriquez, from Salug, posted a pair of 6-0, 6-1 romps over Jalia Elumba (16-U) and Faith Virgo (18-U), extending her impressive run from the Zambo series to Tubod last week, while Padilla, from Ozamiz City, downed Kimberly Vosotros, 7-5, 6-2, and May Insiong, 6-2, 6-1, for the 12- and 14-U diadems, respectively.
Vinz Bering, on the other hand, toppled Kyle Villamar, 6-2, 6-4, for the boys’ 12-U title but bowed to top seed Nash Agustines from Oroquieta City, 1-6, 0-6, in the 14-U finals.
Other singles winners were local bet Jed Las Pinas (16-U), and top seed Steven Sonsona (18-U) and doubles champions Agustines and Aldritz Pan (boys 18-U) and Enrique and Virgo (girls 18-U), Bering and Kyle Villamar (boys’ 14-U), Padilla and Zeiah Toribio (girls’ 14-U).”‹