Velezes reign in PPS-PEPP Kidapawan leg

MANILA, Philippines – Patricia Velez recovered from a second set defeat and crushed top seed Carlyn Guarde in the decider, 6-3, 5-7. 6-0, to snare the girls’ 16-and-under crown in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional tennis circuit presented by Slazenger at the Kidapawan City Tennis Club in Cotabato Province over the weekend.

Velez, one of the rising stars from talent-rich Davao, sustained her form and repeated over her Sultan Kudarat rival in the premier 18-U finals, 6-1, 6-4, to lead four other players who completed a two-title romp in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and hosted by Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista.

John David Velez matched her sister’s feat, beating JV Comendador, 6-3, 6-1, for the boys’ 12-U title and thwarting Brent Andrew Magno, 7-5, 6-1, for the 14-U plum in the fourth leg of the PPS-PEPP circuit backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, the official ball of the circuit.

Janus Ringia pulled off two tough wins to share the spotlight with the third seeded Koronadal bet upending top ranked Jefferson Alqueza, 7-5, 6-4, to snatch the boys’ 18-U crown. He earlier held off Magno, 6-4, 6-4, for the 16-U title.

Sultan Kudarat’s Minette April Bentillo posted the other two-title exploit, surviving Jonn Nadela, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2, for the girls’ 14-U title and sweeping Tennielle Madis, 6-3, 6-2, for the 12-U crown. Madis, from M’lang, Cotabato, earlier took the 10-unisex title with a 4-0, 1-4, 4-2 decision over Reyman Saldivar.

“While some fancied bets prevailed, the number of reversals only underscored the level playing field with the lower-ranked players gaining headway and stunning their more favored rivals. This is what this circuit is all about, to discover fresh talents, especially in the countryside,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Meanwhile, action shifts to Cebu this week with the staging of the fifth leg in Consolacion, Laray while Koronadal City hosts the sixth stop of the 52-stage nationwide circuit on Feb. 11-15. For details, call tournament organizer and supervisor Bobby Mangunay, also the PPS-PEPP sports program development director, at 0915-4046464 or log on to www.palawanpawnshoptennis.com.