Sultan Kudarat bets shine in Gen San

MANILA, Philippines - Unranked Vince EJ Tugade and Caryn Bless Guarde of Sultan Kudarat came away with a pair of straight-set victories each to dominate the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala presented by Babolat tennis tournament at the City Court Tennis Club in Gen. Santos City yesterday.

Tugade, 11,  upended second seed Merwin Estrellado, 4-2, 4-0, in the quarters, held off Jeff Alquiza, 5-4(4), 4-2, in the semis then mastered No. 4 Alfred Directo, 6-3, 6-1, in the finals to cop the boys’ 14-and-under title in the 18th leg of the nationwide circuit put up by Palawan Pawnshop and Babolat.

Tugade earlier downed the top seeded Directo, 4-0, 4-1, in the semis then blasted No. 2 Nicole Gorospe, 6-0, 6-1, to bag the 12-and-U diadem in the event hosted by CCTC, headed by its president Dr. Mario Dideles.

Guarde, 11, matched Tugade’s two-title romp by ruling the girls’ 14- and 12-and-U classes, beating April Bentillo twice, 6-4, 6-2, and 6-1, 6-2, respectively.

Sharyl delos Santos also scored a twin-kill, trouncing Shaira Rivera twice, 6-2, 6-1, and 6-4, 6-2, to cop the girls’ 18- and 16-and-U plums, respectively, while No. 4 Jeric delos Santos topped the boys’ 18-and-U category with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Abubakar Pendiwata.