Madis, Velez top Davao leg

MANILA, Philippines - Tennielle Madis racked up three wins while John David Velez posted two victories and a runner-up finish as they captured the MVP honors in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Davao leg regional age-group tennis circuit at the GSIS Tennis Club yesterday.

Madis crushed Joji Taketomi, 4-0, 4-0, to run away with the 10-unisex crown then the rising star from Mlang took the girls’ 12-U diadem with an equally lopsided 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Jillian Manangking. She later teamed up with Sanchena Francisco and edged Taketomi and Shaun Globasa, 8-5, for the 10-unisex doubles title in the Group 2 event backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and presented by Slazenger.

Velez, on the other hand, came away with a 6-1(ret.) win over Andre Sing for the boys’ 14-U plum then partnered with Cedric Pamplona and held off Kurt Haro and Sing, 8-5, for the 14-U doubles crown. The young local ace, however, fell short against second seed Klyde Lagarde from Gen. Santos City, 7-6(6), 4-6, 10-7, in the 16-U final of the tournament sanctioned by Philta and held in conjunction with the Araw ng Dabaw celebrations.