(L-R) Nilo Ledama and Bliss Bayking pose with PPS-PEPP tournament director Bobby Mangunay with their trophies (CONTRIBUTED).
He captured two titles in the season-ending Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) Dagitab Festival regional tennis tournament and broke not a few Cebuano hearts in the process.
Nilo Ledama’s tennis smarts were on full display yesterday as the Pagadian City native collared two premier titles at the expense of Cebuano rivals at the Naga City Tennis Club in Naga City, south Cebu.
The 14-year old opened the soggy day with a blazing, 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Mandaue City’s Vinz Lominique in the 14-under boys final.
Ledama’s biggest challenge came in the afternoon against Naga City’s Venz Alforque who engaged the double champion into a bruising second set battle before losing, 6-1, 7-6 (5) in the 16-under boys final.
In other boys matches, Ormoc City’s Nicholas Ocat took the 12-U title with a masterful 6-3, 6-3 win over Carl Zaragoza while Cebuano Mitch Largo snagged the 10-unisex tiara after defeating Gerald Gemida, 4-2, 4-1.
In girls action, La Carlota’s Alexa Milliam survived a fierce challenge from Lapu-Lapu City’s Tiffany Claire Nocos before winning in three, 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 and bagged the 12-U title.
Milliam’s dream of making it a double was quickly dashed by San Carlos City’s Bliss Bayking who defeated the former, 6-2, 6-2 to take the 14-under crown.
Today, the embattled Cebuanos hope to bounce back in the semis of the girls 16-under and 18-under where Zethley Alferez and Elsie Abarquez duke it out in both divisions. The winner will meet top-seed Melanie Faye Dizon in the finals.
Arcilla-Iglupas make mixed doubles finals
Meanwhile, the country’s top men’s netter Johnny Arcilla and women’s No. 4 Khim Iglupas advanced to the mixed doubles final against the upset-seeking duo of Leander Lazaro and Aileen Rogan.
Arcilla and Iglupas registered victories over Cebuano pair Zethley Alferez and Amiel Aya-ay 6-1, 6-1, John Altiche and Bliss Bayking 6-3, 6-1 and the hard-fighting Shaira Rivera and Bryan Otico 6-4, 6-2 in the semis.
Arcilla and Iglupas however, are expected to have their hands full against Lazaro and Rogan who earlier shocked top-ranked PJ Tierro and Clarice Patrimonio 5-7, 6-4, 12-10 in the semis.
The highly-anticipated final is scheduled at 6 tonight.
Meanwhile, in men’s singles, Arcilla and Tierro advanced to the quarterfinals with easy second round wins yesterday.
The defending champion Arcilla turned back Mark Gayo, 6-2, 6-1 while Tierro upended Kim Saraza, 6-4, 6-0.
Arcilla battles Otico while Tierro meets Angelo Gonzales in the quarters today.