Red-hot Velez rules Palawan netfest anew

MANILA, Philippines - Patricia Velez kept the momentum of her two-title romp last week, winning the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under titles in emphatic fashion while Klyde Lagarde took the boys’ 14-U crown in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis tournament at the M’lang Tennis Club in M’lang, North Cotabato yesterday.

Velez, Davao’s leading junior netter, overpowered Jazzelle Madis, 6-3, 6-2, to pocket the 16-U diadem then smothered Arnie Joy Diaz, 6-2, 6-0, in the centerpiece division to duplicate her feat in Gen. Santos City where she bested Danna Abad and Nicole Bautista.

Lagarde, on the other hand, stunned top seed Wilfred Bentillo, 6-2, 6-1, in the semifinals then dominated John David Velez, 6-1, 6-0, as the rising Gen. Santos City bet, ranked fourth in the 32-player draw, snared the 14-U title in the Group 3 event hosted by Mayor Joselito Piñol and presented by Technifibre.

“We thank Palawan Pawnshop for this long-running, nationwide tennis program for the youth, especially for the young players here at M’lang, Cotabato,” said Piñol.

Third seed Jarel Edanga from Surala took the boys’ 18-U plum with a thrilling 6-3, 6-4 win over top seed Jefferson Alqueza from Kidapawan, who got back at his tormentor with a tough 7-6 (2), 6-3 victory for the 16-U diadem.

“The rash of reversals further underscored the level playing field that has marked all our tournaments this year. Although Patricia (Velez) dominated her division again, it was close call majority of the final matches,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

David Velez, also from Davao, likewise rebounded from his loss to Lagarde as he copped the 12-U crown with a 6-2, 6-1 romp over JV Comendador while local bet Cedric Pamplona rallied from a set down to repulse Tennielle Madis in a thrilling tie-breaker, 0-4, 5-3, 11-9, to snatch the 10-unisex title in the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop.

Top seed Minette Bentillo of Sultan Kudarat survived Malita’s Ma. Angelica Novis to eke out a 6-4, 5-7, 10-4 decision and bag the girls’ 14-U title but the latter got back at the former by taking the 12-U crown via another thriller, 4-6, 7-6 (8), 10-8.