Legarde, Velez dominate Palawan-Kidapawan netfest

Fourth-ranked Klyde Lagarde and No. 2 Patricia Velez sustained their top form and dominated their rivals to rule their respective divisions in the Palawan Pawnshop Regional age-group tennis circuitKidapawan leg at the Kidapawan Tennis in Cotabato yesterday.

Lagarde, playing out of Gen. Santos City, dropped just three games to reach the finals then subdued the top seeded Wilfred Bentillo, 6-3, 6-2, to snare the boys’ 14-and-under crown in the four-day Group 3 tournament presented by Technifibre.

Velez, on the other hand, needed three sets to fend off Leah Caorte in the quarters, smothered Diadem Sasota, 6-2, 6-0, in the semis before the top Davao bet trounced top seed Nicole Bautista, 6-2, 6-2, to clinch the girls’ premier 18-U title in the tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop.

Danna Abad and Kenny Andre Sing made it a three-win romp for the Davao aces with the former upending Velez in the semis, 6-4, 7-6(4) and downing Bautista, 6-3, 6-2, to annex the girls’ 16-U diadem. Sing lived up to his top billing as he defearted Tennielle Madis, 4-1, 4-2, to pocket the 10-unisex diadem in the event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by Parannaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Local bet JV Comendador also stunned the top ranked Sing, 6-2, 6-1, to cop the boys’ 12-U crown, Midsayap’s AJ Alejandre foiled Lagarde’s two-title bid with a 6-1, 6-1 romp in the 16-U finals while Jarell Edanga from Surala retired Abson Alejandre in the semis, 6-2, 2-0(ret), then smothered unranked Julius Colina, 6-0, 6-0, to run away with the boys’ 18-U title.

Sultan Kudarat’s April Bentillo escaped the upset axe from Ma. Angelica Novis, hacking out a tough 6-4, 4-6, 10-8 decision to bag the girls’ 12-U crown while M’lang’s Jazelle Madis also posted a 6-3, 6-3 reversal over the top-seeded Bentillo to snatch the girls’ 14-U diadem.

“The series of reversals only underscored the level playing field with the unfancied or lower-ranked players gaining headway and stunning their more favored rivals. This is what this circuit is all about, to discover fresh talents, especially in the countryside,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Meanwhile, Koronadal Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes hosts the circuit next leg beginning today with another huge field vying for top honors in various divisions at the Koronadal Sports Complex in Koronadal, South Cotabato.

For details, call up Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP tennis event organizer and sports program development director at 09154046464.