CEBUANO netter Chad Connor Cuizon was the lone bright spot for Cebu as he endured a late comeback effort by Vinci Vincoy to chalk up a 4-1, 5-3 victory and snatch the 10-under unisex title of the Palawan Pawnshop – Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) regional age-group tennis tournament yesterday in Dumaguete City.
After winning the first set by a mile, Cuizon was well on his way to another title but Vincoy managed to come to within 4-3 late in the second.
But the young Cebuano was able to hold his ground en route to a 5-3 triumph in the second set.
It wasn’t the same case for Cebuana sisters Precious and Pherl Bless Coderos, who absorbed an 8-2 defeat against Bliss Bayking and Averille Sacapano in the 18-under girls’ doubles finals.
The 14-year-old Bayking of San Carlos City ended the day with three titles under her belt after winning over Sacapano in both the 14-under singles, 5-7, 6-2, 10-6, and 16-under singles, 7-6(1), 6-1, competitions.
“Watch out for these two young, tall and talented players along with a slew of others who have been benefiting from our year-long circuit in terms of training and exposure. And we hope to produce more Baykings in the future through our series of tournaments nationwide,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
In other games, top-ranked Karl Baran survived Al Francis Andrade, 6-2, 6-4, in the finals to capture the boys’ 18-and-under crown after losing by default to Ibarra Ortega Jr. in the 16-under finals.