Angel Denopol came away with another two-title romp and Zeiah Toribio pulled off a shock win in girls’ play while Eric Tangub took the boys’ 16-and-under crown in the PPS-PEPP JNY Cup national age-group tournament at the LGU and Moltec tennis courts in Molave, Zamboaga last Sunday.
Denopol crushed AJ Acabo, 6-1, 6-1, in the 12-U finals then the rising Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte star blasted Myushe Plariza, 6-1, 6-2, for the 14-U title to duplicate her feat in last week’s Misamis Occidental leg of the country’s biggest, longest-running talent-search presented by Dunlop.
But Toribio, from Ozamiz, stole the thunder in 16-U play, stopping Denopol, 2-6, 6-3, 10-6, in the semis before stunning top seed and doubles partner Carmel Padilla, 6-2, 6-2.
The third-ranked Tangub, from Tucuran, Zambo del Sur, upended second seed Nash Agustines, 6-0, 6-4, in the semis then thwarted Aslan Carbonilla, 6-4, 6-2, to clinch the 16-U crown. But Pagadian’s Nilo Ledama foiled Tangub’s bid for another title, scoring a 2-6, 6-1, 10-4 reversal in the premier 18-U finals of the Group 2 tournament hosted by Nathaniel Yuteekiong and presented by Dunlop.
But with a win and runner-up effort, Tangub still shared the MVP honors with Denopol in the event put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Pera Padala and presented by Dunlop that also saw Dipolog’s Pete Bandala reign in 10-unisex, Tangub City’s Mar Solis win in boys’ 12-U, Agustines from Oroquieta top the boys’ 14-U and Padilla from Ozamiz rule the girls’ 18-U.
“Reversals have become the norm in the circuit, underscoring the new faces’ desire to prove their worth and gain ranking points, thus making each tournament unpredictable,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Bandala nipped Cielo Gonzales in a marathon duel, 2-4, 5-4(4), 14-12; Solis upset top seed Sean Esick, 6-1, 6-3; Agustines bested No. 1 Carbonilla, 6-4, 6-3; and Padilla trounced Toribio, 6-2, 6-2.
Denopol actually ran away with three titles, teaming up with Ashby Villanueva to rout Myushe Plariza and Jastly Go, 8-2, in the 14-U doubles finals while Padilla and Toribio dominated April Cuizon and Marge dela Cerna, 8-3, for 18-U crown.
Ashton Villanueva and Aldree Pan edged top seed Lex Estillore and Alexis Acabo, 8-6, in the boys’ 18-U final; Solis and RJ Cagatan ripped Esick and Penshoppe Erquita, 8-4, for the boys’ 14-U; while Cielo Gonzales and Ram Repolo took the 10-U plum with an 8-4 victory over Catherine Aribal and Zap Galleposo.
