Sonsona, Bentillo share PPS Butuan honors

MANILA, Philippines - Steven Sonsona hacked out a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Brent Cortes to pocket the boys’ 16-and-under crown while Minette Bentillo trounced Casey Padilla to capture the girls’ 14-U title in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Butuan regional age group tennis tournament at the Butuan Capitol and Luz Village Tennis Club yesterday.

Sonsona, from Tubod, Lanao, fended off Vaughn Codilla, 7-6(3), 4-6, 10-3, in the semis then imposed his will against Cortes while Bentillo thwarted Joshea Malazarte, 6-4, 6-4, in the Final Four before dominating Padilla as they led the winners in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.

Sonsona and Bentillo, from Sultan Kudarat, also came away with runner-up finishes to earn the MVP honors in the four-day event which served as the third leg of the 58-stage circuit put up by the country’s leading pawnshop and remittance center to boost the sport and help produce future national players.

“With no player scoring a twinkill only underscored the level playing field which we hope will inspire more young players to join our series of nationwide tournaments,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. “Aside from providing exposure, the circuit also offers ranking points for those aspiring to become members of the national pool.”

Sonsona fell short against sibling Renest, 3-6, 3-6, in the 18-U finals while Bentillo also dropped a 3-6, 3-6 loss to top seed Dana Abad of Davao in the 16-U championship. The 14-year-old Bentillo also reached the semis of the 18-U division of the event backed by new sponsor Asiatraders Corp. and sanctioned by Philta.

Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro will host the fourth leg on Feb. 9-13 at the Nazareth Tennis Club with a free clinic to be conducted by coach Patricia Concon-Puzon, a pro tennis mentor with master pro level 3 of Australia Tennis Professional Coaches Association.