Bernaldez double champ in PPS Mati

MANILA, Philippines — Chelsea Bernaldez raised the girls’ 18-under trophy for the second straight week and added the 16-under crown as she emerged the lone “double” winner in the PPS-PEPP City of Mati National Junior Tennis Championships at the Sainz and Clergy courts in Davao Oriental last weekend.

Like in her tough three-set escape over AJ Acabo in the Maragusan leg in Davao de Oro, Bernaldez survived a cliffhanger, overcoming top seed Sanschena Francisco, 2-6, 6-2, 10-7, in the final of the centerpiece division in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.

The Tagum City find earlier routed Faith Lazaro, 6-2, 6-2, to win the 16-under trophy and MVP honors in the week-long event which served as the second of a three-leg PPS-PEPP swing in the Davao region.

Tagum City will host the last stop on Sept. 7-11 in Davao del Norte. For details and listup, contact event organizer Bobby Mangunay at 09154046464.

Young Kresthan Belacas from M’lang, North Cotabato grabbed a piece of the spotlight with a victory and a runner-up finish to emerge the top performer in the boys’ side of the country’s longest talent-search put up by Palawan Pawnshop under president/CEO Bobby Castro.