Mercado steals show in PPS Olivarez; Bona triumphs

CHLOE Mercado hit back at two of the national junior tennis circuit’s top guns and pulled off a sweep of the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under crowns in the PPS Olivarez Group I tournament at the Paranaque Tennis Club and Olivarez Sports Center’s courts over the weekend.

While Kendrick Bona completed back-to-back two title feats in the boys’ side of the event following a dominant campaign in Biñan, Laguna two weeks ago, Mercado rebounded from semifinal defeats to Sandra Bautista with a 6-2, 7-6(3) reversal over top seed and doubles partner Jana Diaz in the 16-U final.

The Quezon City ace sustained her top form and good condition as she crushed Bautista, 6-2, 6-2, to claim the 18-U trophy and split MVP honors with Bona in the week-long tournament presented by Dunlop and sponsored by Mayor Eric Olivarez.

The Bacoor, C0avite-based Diaz held off Bautista from Imus, Cavite, 6-4, 6-7(8), 10-4, in the 16-U semis but the latter scored a 6-1, 5-2(ret,) win over the former in the 18-U Last 4 phase of the event which served as part of the nationwide circuit put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/ CEO Bobby Castro. Meanwhile, Bona struggled against Tristan Licayan in the 16-U finals but prevailed in the decider, 4-6, 7-5, 10-7, although the Puerto Princesa find cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Daniel Rutines to pocket the 18-U diadem.

Rutines shocked top seed Vicne Serna, 7-5, 6-7(5), 10-6, in the 18-U semis of the event which drew a record 304-player draw following a huge 272-entry cast in the Biñan leg of the circuit.

Other winners were Licayan from Gen. Trias, Cavite and Maristella Torrecampo from Los Baños (14-U), Anthony Castigador from Iloilo and Torrecampo (12-U), and Sherwin Go-mos from Zamboanga del Norte.

CEBU Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. champion University of San Jose Recoletos blanked La SalleDasma, 25-20, 25-18, 25-18, for an early leeway in Pool B in the 2023 Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals in style Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre. Louneth Abangan rifled in 16 points on 14 hits and two aces as the Lady Jaguars finished off their counterparts in only one hour and 22 minutes for a resounding introduction in the elite tourney.

“It’s a great opportunity for us. Sabi ko sa mga players, ‘yung mga nakikita nyo sa TV ay makakalaro nyo dito. We just have to stay focused and play our game,” said coach Roldan Potot. No player finished in double figures for La Salle-Dasma with Shaira Pamero having only five points.

Later, Adamson ushered in a new era under coach JP Yude with a 25-17, 2511, 25-17 win over Jose Maria College Foundation Inc. (JMCF) from Davao for a 1-0 card in Pool C.

Rookie Red Bascon dropped 11 while Sharya Nicole Ancheta and Maria Rochelle Lalongisip had nine apiece as the Lady Falcons scored the straight-set win in 66 minutes.

“It’s a great start sa mga bata. Nakakuha sila ng kumpyansa na preparations namin for our next game. Marami pa kaming trabaho. We’ll work on it. We need to start strong and finish strong,” said Yude, who replaced former mentor Jerry Yee.