Siblings Kimi and Kenzo Brodeth primed up for their upcoming Thailand campaign as they scored a pair of victories each in singles play in the Lapu-Lapu City Juniors Fiesta National Tennis Championships Leg 2 in Cebu City last Sunday.
Kimi, 16, trampled fellow Ormoc City bet Ma. Niña Torrejos twice, posting a 6-1, 6-2 romp to reign in her age-group category then coming away with a 6-2, 6-1 win in the 18-and-under finals to complete her sweep of the two-leg swing following her victories over Kate Imalay and Sandra Bautista in Leg 1, also at the Lapu-Lapu City Tennis Club last week.
“We still need to compete in other local and overseas tournaments to level up,” said Kimi, who is set to compete in the ITF (International Tennis Federation) J60 on Oct. 23-28 in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
The top-seeded Kenzo, on the other hand, routed Christian Laguna, 6-2, 6-2, to bag the boys’ 14-and-U title then thwarted Juvels Velos, 6-1, 7-5, for the 16-and-U crown in the Group I event held under the PPS-PEPP program put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
“This is a good preparation for our tournament in Thailand,” said the younger Brodeth, who will compete in the ATF (Asian Tennis Federation) LTAT Asian 14-and-under tournament on Oct. 14-21, also in Nonthaburi.
The Brodeths have been training intensively in their continuing effort to sharpen their skills and reach the desired competitive level in pursuit of titles and ranking points not just on the local front but also abroad.
Other winners in the event presented by Dunlop were Bogo City, Cebu’s Claudwin Tonacao. Maristella Torrecampo from Naga City, Bicol, Ma. Caroliean Fiel, also of Ormoc, and Torrejos.
Tonacao ripped Xian Calagos, 6-2, 6-0, to win the boys’ 12-and-U title for the second straight week while Torrecampo turned back Fiel, 6-4, 3-6, 10-4, to likewise make it two-in-row in the girls’ 12-and-U side. Fiel also made it back-to-back in 10-unisex with a 4-0, 4-0 romp over Van Gairanod, while Torrejos took the girls’ 14-and-U trophy with a 6-0, 6-0 rout of Torrecampo.
The unranked Chad Cuizon from the host city also grabbed the spotlight as he stunned top seed and doubles partner Gio Manito, 6-1, 7-5, in the semis then overpowered No. 2 Nicholas Ocat, 6-2, 6-1, to snare the boys’ premier 18-and-U title.
In doubles play, Cuizon and Manito rapped Jan Docor and Aaron Tabura, 8-4, and AJ Acabo and Imalay downed Faith Banico and Hannah Co via the same scoreline to share the 18-and-U honors. Al Gairanod and David Sepulveda beat Calagos and Andrio Estrella, 8-4, and Izabelle Camcam and Torrecampo repulsed Chrystell Laguna and Torrejos, 8-4, for the 14-and-U titles.
Fiel and Val Gairanod ran away with the 10-unisex crown with an 8-2 victory over siblings Enzo and Pete Niere.
Meanwhile, PPS-PEPP action shifts to Davao Occidental on Oct. 14-21 for the Gov. Franklin Bautista Open in Malita to be held in conjunction with the Araw ng Davao Occidental celebrations. For details, contact event organizer Bobby Mangunay at 09154046464.