Dizon, Cantila top Digos leg of Palawan tennis

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Jenni Dizon played true to form and swept two titles in the girls’ division while unranked Joel Cantila humbled the fancied bets to capture two crowns in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tournament in Digos City, Davao Del Sur last Monday.

Dizon, the 15-year-old star from Davao City, routed Rachel Velez, 4-1, 4-0, to annex the 18-and-under crown and, as second seed, blasted No. 1 Alliah Ragunton, 4-2, 4-0, in the 16-and-U finals of the four-day event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and Technosports, distributor of Babolat.

But the day belonged to Cantila, another 15-year-old find from Padada, Davao del Sur, who upended No. 3 Jefferson Alqueza, 5-4(5), 4-1, to bag the boys’ 16-and-U plum then repulsed fellow giant killer Kristian Udang, 4-5, 4-0, 10-4, to pocket the 18-and-U diadem in the tournament sanctioned by Philta headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

“Cantila is a big revelation in this event and we hope to discover more of the same in our next tournaments which is our main goal in helping put up this circuit with Philta,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Alqueza, from Kidapawan, took the 14-and-U title with a 5-3, 4-1 win over Merwin Estrellado, while top ranked Mark Directo of Sultan Kudarat rolled past John Velez, 4-1, 4-0, to book the 12-and-U plum.

Patricia Velez, also of Davao City, beat Jed Aquino, 4-1, 4-4, to annex the girls’ 14-and-U diadem, No. 4 Jessica Carcueva from Toril snared the 12-and-U title with a tough 4-2, 2-4, 10-7 win over Ma. Angela Novis, and John Davis Velez of Davao City toppled Novis, 4-2, 4-0, to pocket the 10-unisex title.

 â€œThese young, talented players need all our support and we will continue to provide them the tournaments that they need to further hone up their skills,” said Technosports president Guillermo Nocom.