Delos Santos, Ringia bag Palawan net titles

MANILA, Philippines - Sharly delos Santos stamped her class and swept two titles while young Janus Ringia stunned the field to capture the boys’ 18 and-Under crown in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala presented by Babolat tennis tournament at the Koronadal Tennis Club in South Cotabato yesterday.

The top-seeded Delos Santos overwhelmed No. 2 Abegail Icoy, 6-2, 6-1, to cop the girls’ 18-and-Under plum and upended Carlyn Bless Guarde, 4-2, 5-4(5) in the 16-and-Under finals of the Group 2 event sanctioned by Philta.

The 11-year-old Ringia, on the other hand, bucked the odds to upstage brother Miko Ringia in a thrilling finale, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(11), and snatch the boys’ premier 18-U diadem.

“Ringia’s victory underscores Philta’s program to discover and tap talents from the countryside, who could be trained and developed to become national team members,” said Philta president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Guarde, meanwhile, matched her two-title romp in last week’s Gen. Santos leg of the nationwide circuit as part of Philta’s grassroots development program, winning the girls’ 12- and 14-and-Under titles, topping April Minet Bentillo, 4-2, 4-1, and 4-2, 5-3, respectively.

The nine-year-old Bentilo, from Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, took the 10-unisex plum, thumping Angelica Novis, 4-0, 4-1, while No. 8 Jeric delos Santos thwarted Eduardo Bagaforo, 4-1, 5-4(8) to clinch the boys’ 16-and-Under title.

Unranked Jarell Edangga outlasted Janus Ringia, 6-3, 7-5, to annex the 14-and-Under crown while top seed Mark Alfred Directo beat No. 2 Nicole Gorospe, 6-4, 6-1, to snare the 12-and-Under title in the four-day event.

“We thank the host club for giving the province’s young players the chance to compete and gain valuable experience,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro. “Rest assured that more tournaments will be held in the region.”

Meanwhile, the next leg will be held Oct. 3-7 in Consolacion, Cebu. For details, contact Philta referee Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.