Velez sustains PPS hot start, tops CDO tilt

MANILA, Philippines — John David Velez posted another two-title feat in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis tournament, including the premier 18-and-under crown, as he shared top honors with Tennielle Madis in the Cagayan de Oro leg at the Nazareth Tennis Club yesterday.

Velez, who opened the new PPS-PEPP season with victories in the 14- and 16-U divisions in the Fr. Suarez Cup in Bulacan last month, kept the 16-U plum with a 6-2, 6-4 romp over Rupert Tortal. The rising Davaoeño star then held off Christian Llavore, 6-3, 6-4, to nail the 18-U diadem in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.