DIZON, LEDAMA RULE PPS DAGITAB TENNIS

Melanie Faye Dizon and Nilo Ledama snared two titles each to share top honors in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Dagitab Festival regional age-group tennis tournament 2016 at the City of Naga Tennis Club in Cebu yesterday.

Dizon, playing out of San Beda-Taytay, overpowered Zethley Alferez, 6-1, 6-3, to clinch the girls’ 18-and-Under crown, hours after subduing Elsie Abarquez in a grueling finale, 6-2, 4-6, 15-13, for the 16-U diadem.

Ledama, on the other hand, pulled through in a pair of 64- player draws, thwarting Vinz Luminoque, 6-1, 6-3, to pocket the boys’ 14-U title then stunning top seed Venz Alforque, 61, 7-6(5), for the 16-U crown in the Group 2 event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger which drew more than 320 entries.

“The big turnout only inspires up to continue supporting and developing the sport and as we continue to discover and produce talents from this series of ranking tournaments, we have lined up a bigger circuit next year,” said Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro.

Dizon and Ledama actually came home with three titles each as they capped their impressive campaign with victories in the doubles with Dizon teaming up with Tracy Llamas to rout Precious Coderos and Wyn Paglinawan, 8-2, in the 18U finals.

Ledama, one of the rising stars from Pagadian City, partnered with Kenneth Tenepre to upend Alforque and Luminoque, 8-5, for the 14-U plum.

Hostilities in the Open class are being played at presstime with top seed Clarice Patrimonio and No. 2 Khim Iglupas vying for finals slots.