Lim, Mercado split MVP honors

Benedict Lim overpowered No. 2 Pete Bandala, 6-2, 6-1, to capture the boys' 14-and-under crown and finished second in 16-U play while Quezon City's Chloe Mercado matched the local bet's output in the girls' side as they shared the Most Valuable Player honors in the Lanao del Norte National Juniors Tennis Championships at the MCC Center in Tubod last Monday.

The top-seeded Lim, from Maranding, Lala, dropped just four games in three matches, including a shutout win over fourth-ranked Deen Lanticse in the semis, then clipped Bandala, who struggled past third seed Vincent Nadal, 7-6(7), 6-3, to clinch the top honors in one of the nine age-group divisions of the Group 1 tournament.

Mercado also lived up to her top billing in 16-U category, holding off No. 2 Kate Imalay from Cebu, 6-4, 6-1, although she fell short of her two-title bid when she rammed into a solid top seed and doubles partner Judy Ann Padilla of Ozamiz City, who survived the former's gutsy stand and eked out a tough 7-6(8), 4-6, 10-7 decision.

Other winners in the week-long event were Mark Palanas of Zamboanga Sibugay, Mcleen Gomera of Bacolod, Marlyn Mesiona of Zamboanga del Norte, Gabrielle Bulado of Dipolog City, and local bets Vincent Aguilar and Romuel Buhat.

Palanas, coming off a big showing in the Malita Open, stunned the top-seeded Gomera, 6-4, 6-3, in the semis, then upended No. 6 John Sonsona, 6-4, 6-4, to snare the 18-U title; Gomera bounced back to claim the 16-U trophy with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Lim.

Mesiona also pulled off a reversal over top seed Imalay, 6-4, 3-6, 10-8, to snare the girls' 14-U diadem; the top-ranked Bulado tripped Julia Cabalay, 6-0, 6-1, for the girls' 12-U tiara; Aguilar routed Francis Flores, 6-0, 6-2, in the boys' 12-U finals; and Buhat thwarted sibling Jacob Buhat, 5-3, 0-4, 11-9, for the 10-unisex championship.

Lim and Mercado also shone in doubles with the former teaming up with Kale Villamor and the latter linking up with Padilla to rule the premier division; Lanticse and Nathan, and Mesiona and Bulado shared the 14-U titles; and Aizelle Libonfacil and Sergio Villondo took the 10-unisex crown.