Ayl Gonzaga and Julio Naredo delivered dominant performances en route to twin-title victories in their respective divisions, showcasing their versatility and top-tier skills in the Fortheo National Junior Tennis Championships at the Jethro Sports Center in Valenzuela City recently.
The top-seeded Gonzaga overpowered sixth-ranked Natasha Gabriel, 6-0, 6-1, in the 14-and-under finals, then returned with a hard-fought 6-3, 6-3 triumph over the same rival from Silang, Cavite, to clinch the 16-and-U crown in the Group 2 tournament, which spanned two weeks due to the large number of participants.
Gonzaga added a third title, teaming up with Teresinha Calingasan to blank Co and Brenna Paulino, 8-0, in the girls’ 14-and-U doubles final.
Not to be outdone, third-ranked Naredo swept Ole Paulsen, 6-0, 6-0, in the boys’ 16-and-U final, then crushed No. 2 seed Reden Escultor Jr., 6-3, 6-0, to claim the 18-and-U trophy in the tournament backed by Tier One Architects, Threema, Ckap Roofing, Scrambowl, and Altiche Tennis School.
Other winners in the event, a part of the nationwide talent-search under the Palawan Pawnshop program initiated by president/CEO Bobby Castro, included local standout Melatiah Pascua, Bataan’s Isabel Calingasan, Laguna’s Tyronne Caro, Quezon City’s Gabriel Vitaliano, and Makati’s Liam Harrow.
The unranked Pascua stunned top seed Angeli Quiñones, 6-1, 6-0, in the semis before repeating the scoreline against May Bautista to capture the girls’ 18-and-U trophy.
In the younger divisions, No. 1 Isabel Calingasan defeated third seed Elise Co, 6-4, 6-2, to bag the girls’ 12-and-U title; Caro powered past Vitaliano, 6-2, 6-1, for the boys’ 14-and-U trophy; Vitaliano bounced back with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Caro in the 12-and-U final; and Harrow routed Francis Angeles, 4-1, 4-1, to claim the 10-and-U unisex crown.
Jarred dela Peña and Rain Racho clinched the boys’ title with an 8-4 victory over Angelo Alegria and Leonardo Manio III.
Pascua also secured the girls’ 18-and-U doubles crown with Bautista, routing Ayl Gonzaga and Karidee Henson, 8-0. In the boys’ side, Eoser Delatorre and Ren Magcosta scored an identical 8-0 victory over top seed Prince Cuenza and Felizardo Lota III.
In the 10-and-U unisex doubles, Francis Angeles and Jacob Sarmiento prevailed over Alexander Calingasan and Kirk Gonzaga, 8-4.
