Local bet Stephen Catipon, who had to go through a qualifier to earn a berth in the main draw, swept his way to the boys’ singles 18-and-under championship and added the 16-U plum to cap his two-title run in the PPS-PEPP Mayor Jerry Trenas national age group tournament at LaPaz Tennis courts in Iloilo City last Tuesday.
Catipon, playing out of the St. Robert’s International Academy, crushed Lorenz Delfin, 4-0, 4-0, in the elims then held off Jan Jimenea, 4-1, 5-4(3) in the first round, eased out No. 4 Joshua Raymundo, 4-1, 4-1, toppled second seed Rewel Justiniani, 6-0, 6-2, before besting third seed Nikhel Nowlakha, 6-1, 6-2, in the finals of the premier class in the Group 1 tournament presented by Dunlop.
He earlier dominated the 16-U play as one of the unranked players in the 32-man draw, dropping just seven games before blasting John Santiago, 6-0, 6-2, in the finals of the event put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala and sanctioned by Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.
“It’s inspiring to see new faces emerging and Catipon’s feat should motivate the others who want to make it big in the sport someday,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro, whose long-running circuit continues to help boost the country’s talent-search program in the sport.
Central Phl U’s Althea Martinez, meanwhile, sustained her hot run as she likewise ruled the girls’ top two divisions to share MVP honors with Catipon. She overpowered Jasmine Jaran, 6-0, 6-2, in the 16-U finals and whipped Avril Suace, 6-0, 6-0, for the 18-U trophy, duplicating her feat in last week’s PPS leg in Roxas City.
Other winners were Ormoc’s Christian Laguna (10-unisex), Puerto Princessa and Mac’s Crankit protégé Kendrick Bona (boys’ 12-U), Gerald Gemida, also of Ormoc, (boys’ 14-U), Central Phl U’s Aleeva Suace (girls’ 12-U) and Jaran from La Carlota (girls’ 14-U).
Catipon and Martirez actually came away with three titles as the former later teamed up with Reynaldo Galicia to rout Jan Jimenea and Jan Lamparero, 8-1, for the doubles’ 18-U crown and the latter linking up with Stephanie Crisostomo to thwart Rissa Cubos and Avril Suace, 8-4, for the girls’ crown.
Other doubles winners were Gerald Gemida-John Santiago and Pretrina Aguirre-Alexandra Onte (14-U) and Christian Laguna-Queen Villa (10-unisex) while Danilo Sajonia and Recardo Sunio (40s), Rodelio Borres and Richard Capilla (50s) and Gene Caymo and Marnel Teruel (60s) ruled the Legends division.
Next up is the Philam Tennis Championships on Nov. 28-Dec. 2 at the Philam Tennis Club in QC with some of the country’s leading and rising players are seeing action. Listup is ongoing. For details, contact PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.