Tennielle Madis and Jay Balaoing lived up to their top billing as they nailed two victories each to dominate the PPS-PEPP Sultan Kudarat National age group tennis tournament at the Isulan Capitol Tennis Club recently.
Madis, one of the rising stars from Mlang, Cotabato, dropped just one game in three matches to clinch the girls’ 12-and-under crown via a 6-1, 6-0 rout of Sanchena Francisco. She duplicated that feat with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Angel Armanda in the 14-U finals of the Group I tournament presented by Dunlop and hosted by Gov. Pax Mangudadatu.
Balaoing, from Koronadal, also proved dominant in the boys’ division, beating Jose Balonga Jr., 6-1, 6-1, for the 16-U diadem then whipping Bruce Hurtado, 6-3, 6-1, in the 18-U finals of the event which served as the second of the six-leg Mindanao swing of the Palawan Pawnshop Palawan Express Pera Padala circuit.
“Madis and Balaoing should serve as inspiration to the other youngsters for their hard work and determination to make it big someday with the PPS providing the venue to hone their talent and skills,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Sharing the winners’ podium were Kabacan’s Cian Ramirez (10-unisex), Al Rasheed Lucman (boys’ 12-U) from Malaybalay, Yassan Al Anazi (boys’ 14-U), Kyle Rivera (girls’ 16-U) from Tupi, South Cotabato, and Tennielle’s elder sister Jazzele (girls’ 18-U).
Balaoing and Tennielle, who shared the MVP honors in the tournament sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg, capped their big week with victories in doubles play. Balaoing and Hurtado edged Steve Aton and Christian Villarin, 8-5, while the Madis siblings routed Trixie Costan and Rivera, 8-0, in the 18-U finals.
Meanwhile, Kabacan will host the next stop on Feb. 14-17 followed by Kidapawan City on Feb. 21-25, Digos City on Feb. 28-March 4 and Tagum City on March 7-11.
For details and listup, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
