Madis, Lagarde post twin wins

MANILA, Philippines - Tenielle Madis played true to form and matched Klyde Lagarde and Danna Abad’s twin title romps in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Mlang leg regional age group tennis tournament at the Mlang Tennis Club in Cotabato last Sunday.

The top-seeded Madis trampled Reyman Saldivar Jr., 4-1, 4-2, to annex the 10-unisex crown in a repeat of her feat in the PPS PEPP Tuna Festival in Gen. Santos City two weeks ago before the local rising star trounced Jilian Manangking, 6-2, 6-3, to pocket the 12-and-under diadem in the Group 3 tournament sponsored by the country’s leading pawnshop, remittance and claim center Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.

“Madis has been dishing out top form, gaining much from her regular participation in the circuit put up to discover talents and provide young players like her the kind of competition needed to improve and excel,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

But Ma. Angelica Novis foiled her bid for a third title as the Malita, Davao del Sur ace pounded out a 6-2, 6-3 victory to claim the 14-U crown in the four-day tournament which served as part of Mlang LGU’s sports development program and hosted by Mayor Russel Abonado.

Second seed Lagarde, on the other hand, held off No. 4 Lordrens Pacheco in a thrilling duel, 7-5, 2-6, 10-8, to snare the boys’ 18-U title after the Gen. Santos native scored a 6-1(ret.) win over Eric Comendador in the 16-U finals of the event backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusive  distributor of Slazenger, the official ball.

Abad, meanwhile, dominated Jazzele Madis, 6-2, 6-2, to nail the girls’ 16-U plum then broke Nicole Bautista once in each set to hack out a 6-4, 6-4 decision for the 18-U crown.

Kidapawan’s Eric Comendador bounced back from his setback in the 16-U finals by overpowering sibling JV Comendador, 6-2, 6-2, for the 14-U title while unranked Andre Sing, also from Davao, took the boys’ 12-U title with a big 6-7(6), 7-5, 12-10 upset over top seed JV Comendador in the 12-U championship.

Meanwhile, the longest-running age-group circuit resumes Thursday (Sept. 22) in Davao with Sing, Abad and the Velez siblings, Patricia and John David, tipped to lead the title chase. Listup is ongoing. For details, contact Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP Regional Age Group Tennis Event organizer and Sports Program Development director at 0915-4046464.