Brent Cortes pulled off a rare three-title romp while Sydney Enriquez stretched her winning run to Lanao del Norte as they shared top honors in the Palawan Pawnshop Palawan Express Pera Padala Tubod age group tennis tournament last Monday.
Playing before hometown crowd, the 14-year-old Cortes upended top seed Nash Agustines, 7-5, 6-2, to rule his age division. He repeated over Agustines in the 16-U finals, 6-4, 6-4, then repulsed unseeded Keane Pepito, 3-6, 6-4, 10-7, to snare the 18-U diadem in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.
Unranked in the centerpiece division, Cortes shocked top seed Steven Sonsona, 0-4, 5-4(5), 10-6, in the quarterfinals and dominated Lex Estillore, 6-2, 6-1, before subduing Pepito to complete a grand finish in the event hosted by Stanley Noval at the Tubod-Laneco-Baroy tennis courts.
Enriquez, which swept the 16- and 18-U crowns in the three-leg PPS Zamboanga del Norte swing last month, including in her hometown Salug, sustained her charge and came away with another two-title feat, beating Camille Padilla, 6-1, 6-0, in the girls’ 16-U finals and holding off Janmarie Anghag, 6-2, 7-5, for the 18-U diadem.
“While Enriquez is coming off an impressive sweep, Cortes’ feat was worth noting since he even proved his mettle in 18-U play, gaining ground and confidence through his regular participation in the circuit,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Other winners were Cagayan de Oro’s Janus Rosales (10-unisex), Aslan Carbonilla from Maranding (boys’ 12-U) and Ozamiz City’s Ma. Judy Anne Padilla, who took the girls’ 12- and 14-U titles.
Rosales clobbered Wyn Sanchez, 4-1, 4-1; Carnonilla routed Vinz Bering, 6-0, 6-1; and Judy Padilla crushed Angel Denopol, 6-2, 6-2, in the 12-U finals then outlasted and top seed Guia Bandolis, 6-7(5), 7-6(1), 10-5, for the 14-U diadem.
Meanwhile, Anghag and Carmiville Gervacio foiled Enriquez’s bid for a third title as they nipped the latter and partner Jedidiah Gupit, 8-7(4), to snatch the 18-U doubles plum with Steven Sonsona and Jed Las Pinas taking the boys’ title with an 8-6 decision over Agustines and Christopher Sonsona.
Judy Padilla and Jalia Elumba took the girls’ 14-U crown with an 8-4 victory over Guia Bandolis and Gupit, while Kurt Bandolis and Zark Denopol claimed the boys’ title with an 8-2 rout of Axel Apat and Nicholas Tan. Janus Rosales and Theo Sanchez copped the 10-U diadem with an 8-2 victory over Pete Bandala and Cielo Gonzales.
Action shifts to Kapatagan on Sept. 19-24 while the third leg will be played in Maranding from Sept. 28-Oct. 1. Listup is ongoing. For details, call PPS-PEPP Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464. “‹
