Naga bets dominate PPS netfest

MANILA, Philippines — Unranked but talented stars from Naga City, Cebu took four of the nine boys’ singles titles on tap as they dominated the PPS-PEPP Mayor Junard Chan national age-group tennis tournament at the Lapu-Lapu City and Consolacion courts in Cebu recently.

Vincent Canete bucked the odds to claim the boys’ 12-and-under crown, capping his remarkable romp with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over No. 4 Gio Manito before Mitch Largo, Eric Longakit and Venz Alforque trampled their respective rivals to share the spotlight in the Group I tournament presented by Dunlop.

Largo actually foiled fellow unseeded Canete’s two-title bid, hacking out a 6-4, 6-4 decision for the 14-U diadem; Longakit also frustrated No. 3 Largo, 6-4, 4-6, 10-4, for the 16-U title; while Alforque overwhelmed top seed Cedrix Bravo, 6-1, 6-2, to rule the premier 18-U side of the event, which is part of the country’s biggest talent search put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala.

No. 2 David Sepulveda from Pardo, Cebu trounced third seed Christian Laguna, 4-2, 4-2, to pocket the 10-unisex plum while second-ranked Faith Banico from Siquijor outplayed No. 1 Shaira Paliwag, 6-4, 6-2, to snare the girls’ 12-U crown and share MVP honors with Canete.

The Naga City bets’ victories likewise lined them up for a bigger campaign on Dec. 14-21 for the PPS-PEPP Dagitab Festival, which features the men’s Open singles and doubles along with the Group I junior play. Also on tap are the Legends singles for 40-and-above, and doubles for 30s, 40s and 50s.

For details, contact PPS-PEPP sports program development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.