KATE Imalay and Andrian Rodriguez fashioned out victories and runner-up finishes in their respective sides, earning them co-MVP honors in the Mayor Joedith Gallego National Juniors Tennis Championships at the Silay courts in Negros Occidental over the weekend.
The top-seeded Imalay, 14, demonstrated dominance in her age bracket, dropping just six games, including a 6-0, 6-2 rout of second seed Alexa Cruspero in the finals.
Despite a 0-6, 1-6 setback to Bacolod’s Hannah Divinagracia in the 16-and-under category, the rising Bato, Leyte star emerged the top performer among female players in the Group I tournament presented by Dunlop.
Rodriquez, on the other hand, survived Kurt Montenegro, 4-2, 4-5 (1), 10-2, in the semis then repulsed Raphael Lamata, 6-3, 6-2, to clinch the boys’ 14-and-U title. However, the Bacolod City native fell short in the 16-and-U finals, losing a closely-fought 3-6. 6-1, 6-10 battle to top seed Jeremy Napiere from Cadiz City.
Takuya Joson and Jasmine Jaran, both from La Carlota City, also claimed the top spots in the premier division with the former repelling Romell Gimena, 6-3, 1-6, 10-7, and the latter blasting Louchelaj Estember, 6-0, 6-2, in the 18-and-U finals.
The event, which drew nearly 200 entries, served as part of the junior tennis program put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Impressed by the huge turnout, Mayor Gallego pledged to host the tournament annually, including the Open championship.
Other singles winners were Kathlyn Bugna, Jake Jarqueo and Rayven Milliam, all from La Carlota.
Bugna also went through a wringer before upending the top-seeded Cruspero, 3-6, 6-4, 10-5, while Jarqueo held off Ciaran Alipo-on, 6-3, 6-4, for the 12-and-U title. Milliam snared the 10-unisex diadem with a 5-3, 4-5(4), 10-2 verdict over Christian Jarloyan.
Rodriguez later teamed up with Federer Clelo to win the 18-and-U doubles crown over Miguel Alarcon and Enzo Alipo-on while Divinagracia and Jaran took the girls’ title over Estember and Queen Villa.
