Thirst for first international stint motivates promising Cebuano netter

DAVID Ezra Sepulveda
Christian Maningo

IN JUST his second year in competitive tennis, David Ezra Sepulveda finally got rewarded for his efforts.

The eight-year-old Sepulveda clinched the 8 Unisex title of the Globe Citigreen Junior Tennis Cup 2018, beating Chad Carlisle Cuizon, 6-0, 6-1, Tuesday afternoon at the Citigreen Tennis Resort Cebu.

Sepulveda is one of the three Cebuanos who prevented a title shutout for Cebu as seven of the 10 singles titles at stake were won by visiting netters.

“Happy and excited,” Sepulveda quipped when asked how he felt about winning his first title that booked him a ticket to competitions in Malaysia and Thailand later this year.

All the singles champions will form the Citigreen Junior Tennis Team who will compete in the Penang Junior International Tennis Championship, the Perlis Milo International Junior Tennis Championship and the Hat Yai-100 Plus International Junior Tennis Championships.

Cuizon admitted he really played his best because he wanted to compete in an international tournament.

“Wa pa man ko kasuway (I haven’t tried it yet),” Sepulveda’s said on why he wanted to compete abroad.

The other Cebuanos who reigned in their respective categories were Elizabeth Abarquez of Carcar City and Tiffany Claire Nocos of Lapu-Lapu City.

Abarquez cruised to the 18 Girls title with a 6-0, 6-1 lambasting of Bohol’s Rica Trexie Gudelosao while Nocos had to exert extra effort to halt a second set rally attempt of Ormoc’s Mia Gemida, 6-2, 7-5, and secure the 14 Girls title.

All the Singles Boys titles were won by Mindanao players with Jose Maria Pague of Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte clinching the 18 Boys title with a 6-0, 6-1 thrashing of Jude Carlo Balundo; Nilo Ledama of Pagadian bagging the 16 Boys title against Stephen Zion Guia, 6-1, 6-2; Brent Signmond

Cortes of Tubod, Lanao del Norte taking the 14 Boys title with a 7-6 (5), 1-6, 10-2 outsmarting of Angil Jay Balaoing while Heinz Aslan Carbonilla of Maranding, Lala, Tubod Lanao del Norte pocketed the 12 Boys title with a 6-0, 6-0 thrashing of Gerald Gemida.

The lone girl netter from Mindanao who bagged a title was Maria Judy Ann Padilla of Ozamiz, who demolished Tennielle Madis, 6-2, 6-4, for the 12 Girls title.

Winners from Manila were Kean Sebastian Enriquez, who took the 10 Unisex title with a 4-0, 4-0 beating of Kriz Roque Lim; and Justine Hannah Maneja, who clinched the 16 Girls title by squeaking past Princess Debbie Gom-os, 7-6 (3), 7-5.