Baisa keeps hot romp, Torrecampo rises

MANILA, Philippines — Brice Baisa kept his dominant run in the PPS-PEPP junior circuit, repelling top seed Vince Serna, 7-6(2), 6-2, in the boys’ 18-and-under final to fashion out another two-title romp in the Imus City National Championship at the Imus/Meadowood courts in Cavite over the weekend.

The rising 16-year-old star from Puerto Princesa earlier topped his age-group bracket as an unranked bet, upending top seed Reign Maravilla in a tight quarterfinal duel, 5-4(6), 5-3, then blasting the Dilao siblings to match his feats in the Iloilo, Roxas City and Bacolod legs of the country’s longest talent-search presented by Dunlop early in the season.

He routed France Dilao, 6-0, 6-2, in the 16-U semis then crushed Frank Dilao, 6-3, 6-1, for the crown.

As second seed in 18-U play, Baisa repeated over France Dilao, 4-2, 4-2, in the quarters, re-asserted his mastery of Maravilla, 6-4, 6-4, in the semis before turning back Serna with a mix of everything in the championship.

Young Maristella Torrecampo shared the MVP honors with Baisa with a victory and a runner-up finish in the girls’ side of the Group 2 tournament held under the junior tennis program put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.