Guarde, Velez post PPS-S Kudarat ‘doubles’

MANILA, Philippines - Carlyn Bless Guarde and John David Velez hacked out a pair of double victories to match local aces Vince Tugade and April Minette Bentillo’s feats in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Sultan Kudarat regional age-group tennis tournament at the Isulan Capitol Tennis Club yesterday.

Guarde held off Danna Abad, 6-4, 6-3, to capture the girls’ 16-and-under crown then the local favorite upended Davao’s top player Patricia Velez in a thrilling decider, 6-2, 2-6, 10-4, to snare the 18-U diadem and complete a two-title romp in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop with Slazenger as presentor.

John David Velez, on the other hand, dominated the boys’ side, beating Jay Balaoing, 6-2, 6-0, in the 12-U finals before the rising Davao star trounced Earl Casal, 6-1, 6-3, to nail the 14-U plum in the five-day tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez and backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusive distributor of Slazenger, the official ball and hosted by Gov. Pax Mangudadatu.

Tugade also made the local crowd proud as he toppled top seed Janus Ringia, 6-3, 6-3, to bag the boys’ 16-U title then overpowered John Sonsona, 6-2, 6-2, to rule the centerpiece 18-U division of the tournament also held in celebration of Gov. Pax Mangudadatu’s birthday celebrations that featured the Open men’s singles and doubles and various age-group divisions.

“The regular staging of this nationwide circuit continues to produce different results week-in and week-out, further leveling the playing field with the fancied players no longer dominant as they used to, particularly against the local talents,” said Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro.

Bentillo, meanwhile, scored a 6-1, 3-1 (ret.) win over Tenielle Madis to bag the girls’ 12-U crown then added the 14-U title with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Kristie Bandolis.