Lopez, Rivera share Palawan tennis honors

MANILA, Philippines - Christian Fel Lopez bested a full field to sweep the boys’ premier crowns while Shaira Rivera dominated the girls’ side in the seventh leg of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis circuit presented by Tecnifibre at the ECO 4 Tennis Club in Davao City last Monday.

Lopez posted four lopsided victories, including a 6-1, 6-1 romp over Gil Molina in the final of the 32-player, 16-and-under cast then wore down unranked Lordrenz Pacheco, 6-1, 5-2 (ret.), to clinch the 18-and-U plum in the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop an Technifibre and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Rivera matched Lopez’s feat by beating Patricia Velez, 6-1, 7-5, to snare the girls’ 16-and-U title then overpowered Krizzan Dumlao, 6-3, 6-2, in the 18-and-U final of the tournament that drew a record 160 entries in the boys’ category alone.

“We were overwhelmed by the huge turnout and we hope to inspire more and draw the same number of participants as we continue holding this nationwide, ranking age-group tournament,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Top seed Stephen Tubbs survived No. 4 Ramon Wilfred Bentillo, 6-3, 3-6 (10-8), to bag the boys’ 14-and-U diadem while Velez made up for her setback in the 16-and-U class by topping Dana Abad, 6-3, 7-6(5), in the 14-and-U finals.

Abdul Hanan Cariga routed Justin Catalan, 6-0, 6-3, to clinch the boys’ 12-and-U title while fourth-ranked Jessica Mae Carcueva stunned former winner and No. 2 April Minete Bentillo in a thrilling showdown, 7-6(2), 7-5, to snatch the girls’ 12-and-U crown.

No. 1 John David Velez, meanwhile, whisked off Bentillo, 6-3, 6-4, to rule the 10-unisex division of the event hosted by ECO 4 Tennis Club president (Ret.) Col. Faustino “Toto” Laingo.

Meanwhile, junior tennis action shifts to Digos City in Davao del Sur tomorrow (Friday) for the eighth leg. For details, contact Philta referee and tournament director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.