Rivera, Cantilla bag Palawan Kidapawan crowns

MANILA, Philippines - Shaira Hope Rivera lived up to the hype and annexed another pair of titles while No. 3 Joel Cantilla upended the top two seeds to capture the boys’ 18-and-under crown in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group 2014 Kidapawan leg at the KCTC Tennis Club in Kidapawan City yesterday.

Rivera, the Sta. Ana National High School (Davao City) standout, duplicated her two-division romp in the M’lang leg last week, upending top seed Patricia Velez, 6-4, 6-3, in the girls’ 16-and-U finals and then scoring a 1-0 (ret.) win over Nicole Bautista in the premier 18-and-U second of the event presented by Technibre, also the official ball.

Cantilla, one of the rising players from Digos City, overpowered top seed Jefferson Alqueza, 4-2, 4-0, in the quarters, eased out Judy Pableo, 4-0, 4-1, in the semis before outlasting John Alejandre, 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(4), in the finals to clinch the 18-U diadem in the Group 3 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

“The Kidapaweños are proud to be part of this circuit, particularly in this leg which drew Mindanao’s leading and rising junior players, including Alqueza and Eric Comendador,” said Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista.

Comendador toppled No. 1 John Velez, 4-2, 4-1, in the semis then trounced Derwin Merca, 6-2, 6-3, to pocket the boys’ 12-and-U plum while fellow Kidapaweño Alqueza rebounded from a failed bid in the 18-and-U class by taking the 16-and-U title with a 1-0 (ret.) victory over Alejandre.

Jarel Edangga from Suralah pulled off a thrilling 6-7(5), 6-0, 7-6(9) win over Stephen Tubbs to snare the boys’ 14-and-U title.

Velez of Davao took the 10-unisex crown with a 6-3, 7-5 win over April Bentillo of Sultan Kudarat, who pocketed the girls’ 12-and-U title with a 6-0, 7-6(1) romp over Ma. Angelica Novis, while Davao’s Patricia Velez bagged the girls’ 14-and-U diadem with a 6-4, 6-1 rout of Carlyn Bless Guarde.

“We thank Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala for staging this circuit for years which is a big boost to local tennis,” said KCTC president Ricky Santos.

Meanwhile, the next leg dubbed the Masskara Tennis Festival will be held Oct. 10-14 at the Center Court and Monta Tennis Club in Bacolod with Mayor Monico Puentevella hosting the event.

“Palawan Pawnshop will continue to support Philippine tennis where Filipinos can be at par with the region’s best if given the proper training and exposure,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.