Ballado, Castigador shine

MANILA, Philippines — Jayden Reece Ballado and Anthony Bjorn Castigador delivered impressive performances, each capturing two titles for MVP honors at the Puerto Princesa Palawan Pawnshop National Juniors Tennis Championships held in Palawan over the weekend.

Ballado clinched the girls’ 16-under title with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 win over Zita Clarke before dominating Micaella Encarnacion, 6-1, 6-1, to secure the premier 18-under title.

Meanwhile, Castigador defeated Armik Serillo, 6-4, 6-2, in the boys’ 14-U finale, and capped his campaign by overcoming top seed Gavin Kraut, 1-6, 7-6(9), 6-4, in the 16-U final.

Notable winners included local favorite Evan Bacalso, Francisco De Juan III from Iloilo, Maximus Calingasan from Bataan and Maristella Torrecampo from Naga City.