Pacheco, Nadela seek repeat at PPS Digos

LORDRENS PACHECO and Jonn Nadela hope to sustain their winning form as they seek back-to-back victories in their respective divisions in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Digos leg regional tennis tournament at Digos Tennis Club in Davao del Sur.

Pacheco upended top seed Jefferson Alqueza, 6-1, 6-4, to capture the boys’ 18and-under crown in last week’s Pikit leg of the circuit sponsored by the country’s leading pawnshop, remittance and claim center Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger with the ace Davaoeño netter all primed up for another shot at the crown this week.

But he will have his hands full with Alqueza also out for a rebound and Kylde Lagarde rejoining as top seed along with No. 2 Wilfred Bentillo, Ronnel Aboy, Bruce Hurtado, Arnel Retonio and Benladin Sabang, guaranteeing fierce action in the Group 2 tournament sanctioned by Philta and backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, the official ball.

Lagarde also banners the 16- U field along with Bentillo, Retonio, Hurtado, Earljan Casal, Steve Aton, Jorez Pantujan and Eric Comendador while Davao’s John David Velez seeks another crown in the 14- U category against the likes of JV and Eric Comendador, Casal, Aton, Joross Manangking, Kurt Haro and Cedric Pamplona.

“We expect surprises and reversals that have become the norm in the circuit with new faces and fresh talents continuing to emerge in line with our effort to help in the talent-search,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

For details, contact Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP Regional Age Group Tennis Event organizer and Sports Program Development director at 0915-4046464.

The unranked Nadela will also be hard-pressed to duplicate her stirring 64, 6- 4 triumph over top Jilian Manangking in Pikit with the rising star from Kabacan also going up against the likes of fancied April Bentillo, Ma. Angelica Novis and Joanne Gornes in the girls’ 14-U category.

Meanwhile, Patricia Velez also resumes her campaign in the country’s premier agegrouper with the Davaoeño ace seeking a sweep of the 16- and 18-U titles against the likes of Danna Abad, Jazelle Madis and 12-year-old Bentillo (16-U) with Nicole Bautista joining the premier section.

Bentillo also heads the field in the 12U side with Pikit leg winner Tenielle Madis, Manangking and Paula Taketomi while Tenielle Madis, also from Davao, going for a third straight championship in the 10-unisex category.