Gomera, Padilla share PPS honors

MANILA, Philippines — Mcleen Gomera and Judy Ann Padilla crushed their respective rivals to split the 16-and-under titles then matched runner-up finishes in the premier side to lead a mix of winners in the PPS-PEPP national juniors tennis championships in Consolacion, Cebu recently.

The top-seeded Gomera warded off No. 6 Ariel Cabaral, 6-4, 6-3, in the semis. Then the Bacolod, Lanao del Norte rising star stopped unranked Juvels Velos in his tracks, 6-2, 6-2, to add the Consolacion leg to his growing 16-U trophy collection in the Group 2 tournament wrapping up the four-leg Cebu swing of the country’s longest talent-search that included stops in Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Naga.

Padilla, on the other hand, cruised to victory in her side of the battle, ripping Shara Paliwag, 6-0, 6-3, in the finals as the Ozamiz City bet made up for her three-set setback to absentee Kimi Brodeth in last week’s Naga leg of the circuit put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Meanwhile, fierce action has shifted to Mindanao with the men’s Open in Tagum, Davao del Norte featuring the country’s leading players and rising stars.

John David Velez of Ormoc City and Lapu-Lapu City’s Tiffany Nocos kept their domination of the 18-U play, trouncing Gomera, 6-0, 6-0, and foiling Padilla, 6-4, 6-2, respectively. The 16-U winners shared the MVP honors with their two-medal feats at the Consolacion tennis clay courts.

The eight-category, week-long event produced seven winners from various cities and provinces.