Ledama, Uy lead ‘Top 8’ winners

MANILA, Philippines — Nilo Ledama and Paula Uy wore down their respective rivals and came away with a pair of abbreviated victories in the premier division of the PPS-PEPP Mayor Rene Gustilo Cup UTP Top 8 Juniors tournament at the Sacata Tennis Club in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental last week.

Ledama, the Zamboanga del Sur ace who swept Group B elims in the two-division side among eight of the country’s top players in the boys’ 18-and-under category, toppled Brent Cortes from Lanao del Norte, 6-3, 6-1, in the crossover semis. His finals opponent from Tukuran, Eric Tangub, retired (6-4) due to the intense heat.

Uy, from Cabatuan, Isabela, braced for a fierce title duel with the fancied Sydney Enriquez from Zamboanga del Norte, but took the shorter route in claiming the girls’ 18-U plum with a 1-0 (ret.) victory.

Uy topped the Group B elims with three victories but struggled past Group A No. 2 Krystel Galanza, 3-6, 6-4, 11-9, in the semis. Enriquez eased out Cebu City’s Pherl Coderos, 6-2, 6-2, in the Final Four.

Sharing the spotlight were La Carlota’s Alexa Milliam and John David Velez from Ozamiz (16-U); Manila’s Mica Emana (14-U); Nueva Ecija’s Jayden Ballado and John Prince Lim from Urdaneta (12-U); and Dipolog’s Pete Bandala (10-unisex).