Pete Rafael Bandala came away with a pair of lopsided wins in boys’ singles then sustained his fiery form to match his output in doubles play in the PPS-PEPP Mayor Labadlabad National age group tournament in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte over the weekend.
The rising star from Dipolog City swept his way to the 10-unisex championship without dropping a set in three matches, capping his romp with a 4-0, 4-0 rout of Clint Gallenero. He also trounced Bryzen Sanchez, 6-0, 6-2, in the 12-U finals of the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.
Bandala later teamed up with Yaela Macaraya to subdue Kevin Gallenero and Steph Omos, 8-5, and pocket the 10-U doubles crown before claiming the 12-U title with Penshoppe Erquita via an 8-0 victory over Kurtney Malmis and Miggy Omos.
Judy Ann Padilla, on the other hand, kept her win run going in the country’s longest talent-search put up by Palawan Pawnshop, winning the girls’ 14-U title with a 6-2, 6-2 romp over Christine Gulagula. The Ozamiz City find then stopped Rica Labrador, 6-2, 5-7, 10-5, to snare the 18-U diadem after Labrador shocked top seed and doubles partner Sydney Enriquez, 7-5, 6-4, in the semis.
“Padilla continues to serve as inspiration to her fellow players with her work ethics and determination while Bandala is reaping the fruits of his hard work with his string of victories in the circuit aimed at discovering and developing future stars,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Labrador, meanwhile, gave the crowd something to cheer about as the Sindangan ace foiled Padilla’s three-title bid with a 3-6, 6-3, 10-7 reversal in the 16-U finals, while Cavite’s Jana Diaz bagged the 12-U trophy with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over top seed Marly. Mesiona.
Other boys’ singles winners were Eric Tangub from Tukuran, Zambo del Sur (18-U); Lanao del Norte’s Brent Cortez (16-U); Zambo del Norte’s Neo Maratas (14-U); while Enriquez and Labrador took the girls’ 18-U doubles title; and AJ Acabo and Gulagula pocketed the14-U diadem.
Next up is the Liloy leg, also in Zambo del Norte, on Feb. 27-March 2, before action shifts to Zambo del Sur for the Molave leg on March 5-9 and the Maranding event in Lanao del Norte on March 12-16. For listup and details, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.