Ringia, Velez top PPS-PEPP Tunafest tennis

MANILA, Philippines - Janus Ringia and Patricia Velez came away with two victories each in their respective divisions as they led the siege of the fancied bets in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis tournament at the Gen. Santos City Tennis Club in Gen. Santos City yesterday.

The top seeded Ringia, one of the rising stars from Koronadal, survived No. 2 Vince Tugade’s gutsy plays and eked out a 6-1, 5-7, 10-7 victory to cop the boys’ 14-and-under crown then overpowered Klyde Lagarde, 6-0, 6-2, to annex the 16-U title in the four-day Group 3 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Technifibre, also the official ball.

The top-ranked Velez, on the other hand, trounced Danna Abad, 6-2, 6-3, to pocket the girls’ 16-U plum before the Davaoena ace, as No. 2, scored a 6-3 (ret.) win over top seed Nicole Bautista to nail the premier 18-U diadem in the event held as part of the two-week long tennis festival hosted by the country’s tuna capital.

“While the favorites dominated the event, Ringia and Pamplona were dragged into a pair of three-setters and Abad proved her worth in the girls’ side. Palawan Pawnshop will continue to support these young players by providing them year-round ranking tournaments,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Abad, also from Davao, took the 14-U crown as she fashioned out a surprisingly easy 6-0, 6-0 romp over top seed Minette Bentillo from Sultan Kudarat, who earlier turned back Ma. Angelica Novis, 7-5, 6-1, to clinch the 12-U title in the event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.