Baisa sustains form, Diaz tops in Roxas City

BRICE VINCENT BAISA pulled off another “double,” crushing a couple of top-ranked rivals to claim the boys’ 16- and 18-under titles with Jana Jelena Diaz matching the feat in the girls’ side of the Palawan Pawnshop-palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) Gov. F. Castro national juniors tennis championships at the Villareal Stadium courts in Roxas City, Capiz over the weekend.

Baisa proved his exploits in Iloilo last week were no fluke, blasting his way to the 16-under finals with shutout wins over John Guilaran and Jake Frial, before toppling No. 1 Reign Maravilla, 6-3, 6-2.

The Puerto Princesa City find also swept his way to the 18-under championship with one-sided victories over Juirus Cantor and Jann Guillano, then beat top seed Vince Serna, 7-5, 6-3, to complete a second straight two-title sweep in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.

That makes the 16-year-old Baisa a solid favorite when the country’s longest talent-search put up by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro moves to Bacolod from January 26 to 31 and Bais City in Negros Oriental from February 2 to 7.

For listup and details, contact tournament organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

Diaz, meanwhile, cashed in on the absence of Ormoc’s Kimi Brodeth as she lived up to her top billing to reign in the girls’ 16-under with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Louraine Jallorinia.

The rising Bacoor, Cavite star then routed Feonne Suace, 6-1, 6-2, in the 18-under finals to share MVP honors with Baisa in the tournament sponsored by Gov. Fredenil Castro with support from sports coordinator Matty Viterbo and consultant Atty. Rudy Alba.