Abad sizzles in PPS-PEPP Pikit netfest

MANILA, Philippines - Young Danna Abad racked up three victories in straight-set fashions to emerge the winningest player in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis tournament at the Pikit Tennis Club in Pikit, Cotabato yesterday.

The 14-year-old Abad upended top seed Ma. Angelica Novis, 6-0, 6-2, to nail the girls’ 14-and-under crown, trounced Jazzelle Madis, 6-1, 6-2, for the 16-U title before the rising Davao star rolled past Minette Bentillo, 6-0, 6-1, to claim the premier 18-U diadem.

“Danna has developed into one mean player by competing regularly in the Palawan Pawnshop circuit and we hope to produce more young talents and inspire more players through our series of tournaments nationwide,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castrol.

Kidapawan’s Jefferson Alqueza shared the spotlight by winning two titles in the boys’ side of the tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop in tight fashions, repulsing Merwin Estrellado, 6-1, 5-7, 10-5, for the 18-U crown and turning back Kyle Macaraeg, 4-6, 6-4, 13-11, for the 16-U title in the tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Eric Comendador, also of Kidapawan, took the boys’ 14-U plum with a 6-0, 6-0 romp over Rodick Litang, while younger brother JV Comendador pocketed the 12-U title with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Kurt Haro.

Malita’s Ma. Angelica Novis topped the girls’ 12-U class with a 6-1, 6-1 romp over M’lang Tenielle Madis, who stunned top seed Cedric Pamplona, 6-2, 6-0, to claim the 10-unisex crown in the tournament held in conjunction with the province’s 66th founding anniversary celebrations.

“This tournament is an eye opener for all of us and the province of Pikit and its LGUs thank Palawan Pawnshop for bringing the circuit here for the first time not only to promote the sport but also to help develop our youth,” said Mayor Muhyryn Sultan-Casi.

The tournament also wrapped up the Mindanao swing of the nationwide circuit with action shifting to the Negros region starting with the Pontevedra leg on Oct. 9-12, the Masskara Tennis Festival on Oct. 15-19 and the Pintaflores Festival Open and Juniors tournament in San Carlos City on Oct. 23-Nov. 2.

JV Comendador and Pamplona headline the cast in the boys’ 12-U section.

For details, call Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP organizer and sports program development director at 0915-4046464.