Alexa Milliam continued to stamp her class in three divisions, hiking her title collection to 12 in four weeks after another dominant campaign in the PPS-PEPP Pintaflores national age group tennis tournament at the Sacata courts in San Carlos, Negros Occidental last Friday.
Milliam, 14, toppled Faith Banico, 6-3, 6-0, to rule her age division then mastered doubles partner Sydney Enriquez twice with a 6-3, 6-4 victory in the 16-and-under finals and a 7-5, 6-2 triumph in the premier 18-U class of the Group 1 tournament presented by Dunlop and sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala.
The Pontevedra, Negros ace’s three-title feat thus stretched her girls’ singles run to four weeks after similar romps in Dumaguete, Argao, Cebu and Negros Occidental.
Davao’s John David Velez likewise kept his winning spree in the boys’ side of the event sponsored by Mayor Gerardo Valmayor, Vice Mayor Renato Gustilo, Vice Gov. Eugenio Lacson and Julio Ledesma and organized by councilor Criston Carmona and backed by TJ’s Clear Art, winning the 16- and 18-U titles in straight-set fashions.
The top-seeded Velez trounced No. 2 Daniel Estanislao III, 6-3, 6-3, in the 16-U finals then overpowered Norman Gaspar, 6-1, 6-2, to rule the centerpiece event and share the MVP honors with Milliam for the fourth straight week.
“There seems to be no stopping these two players, whose feats should inspire and motivate the other young players in pursuit of tennis excellence,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. “The PPS-PEPP circuit will continue to provide the youth the venue to train and develop their talent and skills.”
Meanwhile, top seed Johnny Arcilla and No. 4 Fritz Verdad arranged a semifinal clash in the Open division with the former overpowering Rodolfo Barquin, 6-1, 6-2, and the latter easing out Norman Enriquez, 6-4, 6-1.
Second seed Vicente Anasta and No. 8 Leander Lazaro were disputing the third semis berth while defending champion Bryan Otico and Rolando Ruel Jr. were clashing for the fourth slot at presstime. For details, call PPS-PEPP Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
Other winners were Puerto Princesa’s Kenrick Bona, who took the 10-unisex title with a 4-1, 4-2 victory over Gibson Nochefranca; Naga, Cebu’s Mitch Lagro, who crushed Elemar Sealza, 6-1, 6-3, for the boys’ 12-U plum; and Manila’s Alejandro Barrientos, who dominated Pete Rodriguez, 6-0, 6-1, for the boys’ 14-U diadem.
Banico, from Siquijor, bounced back from her loss to Milliam by topping the 12-U class with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Louchelaj Estember.
