Top seed John David Velez posted a win and a runner-up finish while unranked Janaila Prulla topped the girls’ 14-and-under side as they shared top honors in the PPS-PEPP MAC’s Crankit Juniors tennis tournament at the PCA courts in Paco, Manila recently.
Velez stopped Andrei Lago’s giant-killing spree with a 6-4, 6-3 victory to claim the boys’ 14-U crown but the rising Davaoeño star fell short of his two-title bid, dropping a shock 1-6, 4-6 setback to unfancied Alfred Directo from Sultan Kudarat in the 16-U finals of the Group I tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala and MAC’s Crankit Foundation led by MCTA founder-coach Patricia Concon-Puzon.
Prulla worked her way up with victories over No. 4 Tennielle Madis, 6-2, 6-1, in the quarters, a 6-3, 4-1(ret.) win over top seed Alexa Milliam in the semis before trouncing third seed Justine Maneja, 6-1, 6-1, to snare the 14-U title in the week-long event which produced different winners in all nine age-group divisions.
“With no player scoring a double victory only underscores the level playing field from among our age-groupers. A lot of budding players are catching up with the regular campaigners through hard work and desire to excel,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Bea Acena, from Dubai, foiled Tracy Llamas, 6-3, 6-1, to capture the girls’ 18-U diadem; unseeded Minette Bentillo, also from Sultan Kudarat, took the 16-U title with a tough 3-6, 6-1, 12-10 victory over Maneja; Valenzuela’s Eah dela Torre overpowered Ma. Sophia Moreno. 6-3, 6-1, in the girls’ 12-U finals.