MANILA, Philippines — John David Velez and Judy Ann Padilla frolicked at home and came away with a pair of victories to lead the winners in the PPS-PEPP Mayor Oaminal national age group tennis tournament at the Asenso courts in Ozamiz City last weekend.
Velez, 16, trampled Brent Cortes, 6-4, 6-2, to rule his age bracket then hacked out a 7-6 (4), 3-4 (ret.) win over Nash Agustines in the 18-and-under finals to match fellow Ozamiz bet Padilla’s two-title feat in the girls’ side of the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.
Padilla, 14 rapped Christine Gulagula, 6-1, 6-0, to complete domination of her age category then trounced Zeiah Toribio, 6-2, 6-0, in the 16-U finals. Sharing the spotlight are Cebu’s David Sepulveda (10-unisex), Mark Solis from Tangub City, Cielo Gonzales from Oroquieta (12-U), Cyd Villamar from Lanao del Norte (boys’ 14-U), and Zambo del Norte’s ace Sydney Enriquez (girls’ 18-U).
Sepulveda stunned top seed and doubles partner Pete Bandala, 5-3, 5-3; Solis stopped Sepulveda in the semis, 4-1, 4-5(5), 10-8, then foiled Bandala, 6-3, 6-2; Gonzales held off Rose Mesiona, 6-4, 7-5; Villamar shocked top seed Neo Maratas, 0-4, 4-1, 10-7, in the semis then warded off No. 2 Penshoppe Erquita, 7-6(2), 2-6, 10-2; and Enriquez romped off with a 6-1, 6-1 triumph over doubles partner Karylle Baco.