Velez, Novis bag PPS MCF crowns in Davao

Local star John David Velez and Malita find Ma. Angelica Novis fashioned out a pair of emphatic victories to share MVP honors in the PPS-PEPP MCF Global National tennis tournament at the GSIS Tennis Club in Davao City last Monday.

Velez stayed hot despite coming off a long break from the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala circuit, dropping just 14 games in four matches to capture the boys’ 16and-under crown via a 6-1, 6-3 result over Andrei Lago in the final.

He proved more imposing in the premier 18-U side, blasting Nikhel Nowlakha, 6-1, 6-1, to complete a two-title romp in the Group 1 event.

Novis, meanwhile, kept her impressive run in the girls’ division of the nationwide circuit presented by Dunlop, crushing Coleen Carvajal twice to sweep the 16-U (6-3, 6-2) and 18-U (6-1, 6-3) diadems in the circuit sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.

Other singles winners were Cian Ramirez from Kabacan (10-unisex), Kendrick Bona from Puerto Princesa and member of the MCTA, Davao’s Andre Sing (boys’ 14-U), Tagum’s Chelsea Bernaldez (girls’ 12-U) and Juliana Carvajal from Digos (girls’ 14-U).

Sharing the spotlight were men’s doubles Legends winners Edgar Quinones and Ken Mamontuan, who edged Renato dela Cruz and Jojo Idpan, 8-5, in the 40s; Roland Diamante and Quinones, who nipped Arnold Sarabia and dela Cruz, 8-6, in the 50s; and Gabriel Perez and Bando Cariga, who repulsed Jonathan Palac and Rogelio Estano. 8-4, in the Open division.

Velez and Novis actually ended up with three titles each as they also topped the 18-U doubles with the former teaming up with Nowlakha to foil Kobe Dumlao and Carlos Santiago, 8-4, and the latter and partner Zylaka Cervantes thwarting siblings Juliana and Coleen Carvajal, 8-6.