Aludo, Aquino shine in Gov Cup netfest

MANILA, Philippines — Stefi Aludo flashed top form in her return to the PPS-PEPP junior tennis circuit, dominating the girls’ top two divisions while James Aquino stamped his class in boys’ 16-and-under play as they claimed MVP honors in the Governor’s Cup at the DavNor Tourism Sports Complex courts in Tagum last Thursday.

Aludo stopped Dhea Cua’s title run in the three-leg Cotabato swing last month, coming away with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph in the 16-U finals. Then the Trento, Agusan del Sur find, a recipient of a Prince of Tennis award in 2019, toppled Chloe Mercado, 6-1, 6-1, to pocket the 18-U crown.

The top-seeded Aquino, on the other hand, survived a three-set scare from Maynard Castillon in the quarters, ripped Pete Cua, 6-0, 6-1, in the semis then blasted Robert Payot, 6-0, 6-0. But the Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte bet fell to Daniel Giducos, 6-1, 1-6, 10-6, in the 14-U semis of the event sponsored by Gov. Edwin Jubahib.

Local bet Jayson Battad, however, foiled Giducos, 7-5, 6-1, in the finals to join Zhyrus Lozano, Marco Macalintal, Teiko Ello and Cua in the winners’ podium of the country’s longest tennis talent-search put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.