Zoleta, Lagarde bag PPS MVP crowns

MANILA, Philippines - Gabrielle Zoleta racked up four titles, including two in doubles, while Klyde Lagarde notched three victories as they dominated the PPS-PEPP Pinamalayan leg regional age-group tournament at the Bahaghari Tennis Club in Mindoro yesterday.

Zoleta scored a 4-1(ret.) win over top seed Tracy Llamas to add the girls’ 18-and-under crown to the 14-U plum she earlier notched via a 6-1, 6-0 romp over Julia Ignacio. The Lucena City star also teamed up with Ignacio to crush the Dana Jalbay-Minette Huerra tandem, 8-0, for the 14-U doubles plum then partnered with Lila Salvacio to upend the top-seeded pair of Llamas and Kiana de Asis, 8-5, for the 18-U diadem and cop the MVP crown.

But she bowed to De Asis, 6-3, 6-2, in the U-16 semis with the latter repulsing Llamas, 4-6, 7-6(2), 10-6, for the title.

Lagarde, meanwhile, beat Angelo Mates, 6-0, 6-1, for the boys’ 18-U crown, which came after he outclassed Jose Buenaventura, 6-1, 6-3, to pocket the 16-U plum in the tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop.