Emana, Velez top PPS-MPC tennis

MANILA, Philippines — Mica Ella Emana turned in a pair of superb performances to annex two titles while John David Velez settled for one victory due to cramps in the PPS-PEPP Manila Polo Club National age-group tennis tournament at the MPC outdoor courts in Forbes Park in Makati City over the weekend.

The second seeded Emana trounced No. 1 and doubles partner Marielle Jarata, 6-1, 6-2, to claim the girls’ 12-and-under plum, then the rising Quezon City star upended top seed Julia Ignacio, 6-3, 6-4, in the semis and repeated over Jarata, 6-4, 6-1, to clinch the 14-U diadem.

Velez crushed Keno Enriquez, 6-0, 6-0, to run away with the boys’ 14-U crown but the Davao ace failed to buck cramps and dropped a tough 4-6, 6-7(6) loss to Gabriel Gurria from Imus, Cavite in the 16-U finals of the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop and sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Pera Padala.

Unable to endure the pain, Velez yielded a 0-1 (ret.) loss to QC’s Loucas Fernandez in the 18-U championship. But with a win and two finals stints, he shared the MVP honors with Emana.

“While breaks didn’t go Velez’s way, Emana’s twin title feat should inspire the other aspirants that hard work and determination can topple even the best in the fold. With the PPS-PEPP weekly tournaments, we hope to produce new faces and future stars,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

The other winners in the ranking tournament were Kean Enriquez from Imus, Manila Polo Club bet Lukas Yupangco and siblings Renee and Bea Acena.

The fifth-ranked Enriquez whipped top seed John Lim, 4-0, 4-0, (10-unisex),  the unranked Yupangco stunned No. 4 Joshua Diva, 6-4, 6-7(4), 10-3; No. 7 Renee Acena held off third seed Justine Maneja, 6-3, 6-3 (16-U ) and top seed Bea Acena clobbered No. 3 Bliss Bayking, 6-0, 6-2 (18-U).