Davao's Mark Alcoseba scored a “twinkill” in the PPS-PEPP Escudero Cup 2019, upending top seed Alberto Anasta, 7-5, 6-3, in the men’s singles then teaming up with Noel Damian Jr. to repulse Emmanuel Fuelas and Harvey Gilbuena, 7-5, 6-2, in the doubles finals at the Aera Tennis Club in San Pablo City recently.
The second-ranked Alcoseba and Anasta advanced to the finals in varying fashions with the former dominating his rivals in the lower half of the 32-player draw, including a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Deo Talatayod in the semis.
In contrast, Anasta, from Himaymaylan, Negros Occidental, needed a pair of extra sets to earn a crack at the crown, nipping a tough Aljuthor Moralde, 4-6, 7-5, 10-6, in the quarters and then thwarting Damian in a grueling semis battle, 6-4, 4-6, 15-13.
But Alcoseba proved steadier in the finals, wearing down Anasta in the first frame and sustaining his form to fashion out the straight-set victory in the revival of the tournament last held in 2006 and held as part of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala circuit headed by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Alcoseba and Damian also had to rally from a set down to turn back Elvin Geluz and Stefano Gurria, 0-6, 6-2, 10-7, in the semis then foiling the Fuelas-Gilbuena pair to score a follow-up to their doubles romp in the Gov. Umali Cup in Oriental Mindoro last month.
Alcoseba pocketed the top P10,000 purse in singles then split the P10,000 purse with Damian in their doubles feat in the week-long tournament presented by Royal Air and backed by Rep. Sol Aragones and Villa Escudero.
Sharing the spotlight in the event backed by Dunlop as official ball were Jomar Santos-Justino Buendia, Jonathan Bernardo-Aldrin Geluz, Henry Escalante-Jacky Tomacruz, and Ernie Dinio-Remo Librodo, who topped their respective divisions in the Legends doubles.
Santos and Buendia upset top seed Rollie Anasta and Alcoseba, 8-6, to snare the 30s crown; Bernardo and Geluz nipped Leo Mercado and Andy Tocino, 8-7(4), for the 40s diadem; Escalante and Tomacruz trounced Amid Torres and Aldrin Geluz, 8-5, for the 50s title; and Dinio and Librodo took the 60s plum with an 8-2 rout of the Resty Capina and Toto Ramirez.
