Joshua Kinaadman flashed top form and dominated the PPS-PEPP Mayor Nikko Mercado Open Championship while John David Velez and France Lorin Idjao ruled the MCF Global national age-group at the Maasin Lawn Tennis Club in Leyte last weekend.
The top-seeded Kinaadman dropped just five games on his way to the singles finals where the Lapu-Lapu City bet reigned with a 6-2, 1-0(ret.) win over No. 2 Norman Enriquez, who had to endure a pair of three setters over Elmer Alila and Velez to get a crack at the crown worth P15,000 in the centerpiece event held as part of the city’s 19th Charter Day celebrations.
Velez, the former Davao star now playing for Asenso Ozamiz Tennis Club, lived up to the hype in the accompanying MCF Group I age grouper, sweeping his way to the boys’ 18-and-under singles plum with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Vinz Lominoque. He also took the 16-U title with a walkover win over Sai Lago.
A MCTA protégé and La Salle-Lipa mainstay, Lago also made it to 14-U finals and 14-U doubles finals but opted not to play due to personal reasons.
On the other hand, the unfancied Idjao, from La Salle-Lipa, stunned top seed and doubles partner Gabby Zoleta in the semis, 4-2, 4-2, then repulsed Judy Anne Padilla, 6-4, 7-5, to snare the premier crown in the girls’ side of the event sponsored by the MAC’s Crankit Foundation headed by coach Patricia Concon-Puzon, the second of four MCF-backed tournaments with San Carlos City, Negros Occidental and Iloilo hosting the last two stops.
Zoleta earlier took the 16-U plum with a 5-7, 6-1, 10-3 decision over Padilla.
Other winners in the twin events put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro, presented by Dunlop and backed by Mayor Nikko Mercado, were Hans Cabello (boys’ 14-U), also from Pardo, Corazon Lambonao (girls’ 14-U) from Ormoc City, Kirby Ramacho (boys’ 12-U) from San Carlos City, Elsmarie Denopol (girls’ 12-U) from Kulambugan, Zamboanga, and Christian Laguna (10-unisex) from Ormoc.
Sharing the doubles titles were Venz Alforque-Vinz Lominoque and Zoleta-Idjao (18-U), Hans Cabellon-Jonathan Largo and Ma. Sophia Moreno-Elna Beronio (14-U) and Christian Laguna-Kenzo Brodeth (10-U).
Meanwhile, action shifts to nearby Baybay City for the President’s Cup which starts today (Aug. 8) with the Mayor Rolando Aquino Cup set next on Aug. 15-18 in Calbayog, Samar. For details, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.