Fifth-ranked Daniel Estanislao toppled top seed Exequiel Jucutan, 6-4, 4-6, 10-6, while No. 8 Macie Carlos upended fourth seed Kryshana Brazal, 6-3, 6-2, as they claimed the 16-and-under crowns in the PPS-PEPP Valle Verde Country Club National Age-Group tennis tournament at the VVCC tennis courts in Pasig City over the weekend.
Estanislao, one of the rising stars from Caloocan City, rode on his big victories over Joewyn Pascua, Jester Ocio and Edgardo Angara then fought back from a second set meltdown in the finals with a gritty stand to hack out the victory.
Club bet Carlos matched that reversal by dishing out one solid game after the other, whipping Chelsea Roque, 4-0, 4-1, stopping Bliss Bayking and third ranked Justine Maneja via the same scoreline, 6-3, 6-1, before overpowering Brazal to complete her title romp in the Group 1 tournament presented by Dunlop and sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala.
No. 8 Ibarra Ortega also stunned top seed Vince EJ Tugade, 6-3, 7-5, while sixth ranked Carlyn Guarde repelled doubles partner No. 4 Danna Abad, 6-4, 4-6, 10-4, in the premier 18-U division of the event sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.
“The string of reversals further underscored the level playing field with the lesser fancied bets gaining more and more grounds through hard work and their regular participation in the year-long, nationwide circuit,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Second seed Mica Emana also repulsed No. 1 Marielle Jarata, 6-4, 6-0, for the girls’ 12-U crown.
Only three bets lived up to their top billing with Prince Lim ruling the 10-unisex side with a 5-3, 5-4(4) escape over Frank Dilao; Brent So surviving Lukas Yupangco, 7-5, 6-3, for the boys’ 12-U diadem; and Maneja crushing Alexi Jarata, 6-1, 6-0, for the girls’ 14-U plum.
Lim and Emana also ruled their respective doubles sides to share the MVP honors with the former teaming up with brother Roque to beat France and Frank Dilao, 8-3, for the 10-unisex title and the latter combining with sibling Kaye to rout Brazal and Jiana Hernandez, 8-1, for the 14-U plum.
Other doubles winners were Joshua Austria and Loucas Fernandez, who edged Stefano Ortega and Tugade, 8-7(5), and Abad and Guarde nipped Bea and Renee Acena, 8-6, in the 18-U finals; and Samuel Nuguit and David Velez, who thumped JT Bernardo and Andrei Jarata, 8-2, for the boys’ 14-U title.
Next up is the PPS Manila Polo Club starting Friday while Pulilan, Bulacan will host the next PPS leg on Aug. 17-19. Listup is ongoing. For details, call PPS-PEPP Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
