Daily Tribune
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PPS Maristella Torrecampo (second from right) proudly shows her trophy as she poses with (from left) Valle Verde Country Club president Ritchie Lozada, Al Tristan Licayan and VVCC Sports and Games manager Roger Silong.
Maristella Torrecampo toppled top seed Ave Maria Policarpio, 6-0, 6-2, to secure the girls' 14-and-under crown in the Valle Verde National Juniors Tennis Championships in Pasig City last Monday.
The straight-set romp came after Torrecampo dispatched No. 2 Ayl Gonzaga, 6-2, 6-0, in the semis with the third-ranked rising star from Naga City, Bicol sustaining her form to topple Policarpio, who reached the finals with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Lilith Rufino.
Earlier, Torrecampo dominated the 12-and-U play, dropping only five games in four matches, capped by a 6-0, 6-2 win over Ella Paglalunan in the finals, making her the sole two-category winner of the Group 2 tournament at the Valle Verde Country Club courts.
No. 5 Al Tristan Licayan, on the other hand, demolished Samuel Davila, 6-1, 6-1, to claim the boys' 16-and-U title as the Gen. Trias, Cavite bet shared Most Valuable Player honors with Torrecampo.
Other winners in the week-long tournament, sanctioned by Philta were Ariel Cabaral and Mica Emana (18-and-U), Sandra Bautista, Alexander Coyiuto, Marcus Go and Raven Licayan.
The third-seeded Cabaral, also from Gen. Trias, repulsed No. 2 Ivan Manila, 0-6, 7-6(1), 10-7, in the semis then routed Davila, 6-2, 6-1, while the unranked Emana from Quezon City stunned top seed Chloe Mercado, 6-4, 6-3, to underscore the level playing field in the event which drew close to 300 entries in nine age-group categories.
No. 1 Bautista, from Bacoor, Cavite, turned back second seed Joy Ansay, 6-3, 6-3, in the girls' 16-and-U final, while the seventh-ranked Coyiuto from Makati City wore down No. 6 Mikael Honrado in a thriller to clinch a 4-6, 6-1, 10-7 decision in the boys' 14-and-U championship.
The top-ranked Go, also from QC, escaped with a 3-6, 6-2, 10-6 win over Claudwin Toñacao in the semis then blasted Pete Niere, 6-0, 6-2, to pocket the boys' 12-and-U diadem, while Raven Licayan, also from Gen. Trias, took the 10-unisex trophy with a 4-2, 4-1 victory over Juliana Coyiuto.
In doubles competition, notable pairs such as Bautista and Emana, Al Licayan and Manila, as well as Gonzaga and Policarpio, and Aron Emana and Kirk Gonzaga, showcased their teamwork and skill to claim titles in various age-groups.
Meanwhile, action resumes Thursday for the Fr. Fernando Suarez M-Cup at the South City Homes Recreation Center in Biñan, Laguna.
