Velez, Prulla best in PPS Crankit Juniors

MANILA, Philippines — Top seed John David Velez posted a win and a runner-up finish while unranked Janaila Prulla topped the girls’ 14-and-under side as they shared top honors in the PPS-PEPP MAC’s Crankit Juniors tennis tournament at the PCA courts in Paco, Manila recently.

Velez stopped Andrei Lago’s giant-killing spree with a 6-4, 6-3 victory to claim the boys’ 14-U crown but the rising Davaoeño star fell short of his two-title bid, dropping a shock 1-6, 4-6 setback to unfancied Alfred Directo from Sultan Kudarat in the 16-U finals of the Group I tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala and MAC’s Crankit Foundation led by MCTA founder-coach Patricia Concon-Puzon.

Prulla, another gem of a find from Bulacan, worked her way up with victories over No. 4 Tennielle Madis, 6-2, 6-1, in the quarters, a 6-3, 4-1(ret.) win over top seed Alexa Milliam in the semis before trouncing third seed Justine Maneja, 6-1, 6-1, to snare the 14-U title in the week-long event which produced different winners in all nine age-group divisions.