MANILA, Philippines - Miles Vitaliano mastered young Macie Carlos twice to capture the girls’ 14- and 16-and-under crowns while Marcus del Rosario snared the boys’ 16-U plum in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis Manila leg at the Olivarez Sports Center indoor courts in Sucat, Parañaque yesterday.
Vitaliano fought off Carlos’ early challenge then asserted her might midway through the duel of the top two seeded bets to prevail, 6-2, 6-3, in the 14-U finals then the talented QC bet repeated in the 16-U championship, 6-0, 6-4, to emerge the lone double winner in the Group 2 tournament which drew a record more than 300 entries, including full-packed 64-player rosters in seven categories.
No. 5 Chloe Mae Saraza, another ace from QC, bested Bea De Ocampo, 6-0, 6-4, to cop the girls’ 18-U title while No. 6 Joel Atienza, also from QC, held off Jed Labasano, 6-4, 6-2, to clinch the premier crown in the boys’ side of the seven-day tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop headed by president and CEO Bobby Castro and presented by Slazenger.
“We were overwhelmed by the huge turnout and the enthusiasm of our young players in pursuit of glory and ranking points. This only inspires us to continue supporting the sport and help in discovering fresh talents, not only in Manila but throughout the country,” said Castro.
Matthew Garcia, son of former tennis star and TV anchor Dyan Castillejo, took the 14-U diadem with a 1-0 (ret.) win over Joseph Geluz while La Union’s Andrei Jarata and Cainta’s Kryshanna Brazal shared the 12-U honors in the event backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusive distributor of Slazenger, and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.
The top-seeded Jarata subdued Shant Nuguit, 6-1, 6-4, while Brazal downed Glydel Guevarra, 6-1, 6-4.
Unseeded local bet Sherwin Nuguit also grabbed the spotlight as he snared the hotly-disputed 10-unisex plum with a 5-4(2), 4-5(4), 4-1 decision over No. 6 Darwin Cosca.
Meanwhile, action shifts to Mindanao on June 23-27 with the staging of the PPS-PEPP Sultan Kudarat leg which also kicks off the annual Rainy Season Festival in the country’s longest, biggest age-group circuit.
For details, Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP regional age group tennis event organizer and Sports Program Development director, at 0915-4046464.