Velez, Abarquez clinch PPS Dagitab net plums
Date Published: December 25, 2017
MANILA, Philippines — John David Velez and Elizabeth Abarquez each carved out a
pair of victories in varying fashions to dominate their respective sides in the
Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Naga City regional age-group tennis
tournament at the City of Naga tennis courts recently.
Velez repulsed Andrei Padao, 6-3, 6-4, in a duel of fancied bets to nail the boys’
14-and-under crown then stopped Mark Albarracin, 6-1, 6-2, to annex the 16-U diadem
in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.
The top-seeded Abarquez from Carcar, Cebu also held off young Alexa Milliam, 6-3,
6-4, in the girls’ 16-U finals then repeated over the Smapi, Ponte Vedra bet, 6-2,
0-6, 10-5, for the 18-U plum as she shared the MVP honors with Velez in the event
hosted by Naga City Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong and the various LGUs.
Milliam earlier dominated Ashley McKenzie, 6-1, 6-2, but fell short twice of her
upset bid against Abarquez in the tournament backed by the Unified Tennis Philippines,
including PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.
“While Velez and Abarquez have established themselves as forces to reckon with in
the circuit, fresh faces continue to emerge, thus inspiring us more to put up more
and more tournaments to widen the base of our talent-search,” said Palawan Pawnshop
president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Unranked local bet Vince Canete downed Gio Manito, 4-0, 5-3, to snatch the 10-unisex
crown; Ormoc City’s Corazon Lambonao outlasted Kimberly McKenzie in a marathon duel,
6-4, 4-6, 11-9, (12-U); Andrei Lago from Sogod, Leyte trounced Mitch Laygo, 6-2,
6-3 (boys’ 12-U) and top local entry Vhon Tudtud overpowered Lemuel Garbosa, 6-3,
6-2 (18-U).
Source: www.philstar.com