‘Gapo’ netters shine in Calderon Cup

Olongapo City netters delivered a commanding performance in the Mayor Benedict Calderon Cup National Juniors Tennis Championships, with Jan Cadee Dagoon spearheading the squad’s dominance by clinching three titles, including a pair of singles crowns, over the weekend in Roxas, Isabela.

Backed by a solid grassroots program, the Olongapo bets showcased their depth and talent, capturing majority of the age-group titles in the Group 2 tournament at the Lado del Rio Resort and Roxas Tennis Club.

Sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association, the event was part of the 77th Araw ng Roxas celebrations.

Dagoon, the top seed, lived up to expectations as she outlasted Ayl Gonzaga in a tightly contested second set to prevail, 6-2, 7-6(2), in the girls’ 16-and-under finals.

She then returned with even greater resolve to dominate Gonzaga anew in the premier 18U division, 6-1, 6-3, becoming the only double gold medalist in singles play of the tournament sponsored by Mayor Benedict Calderon.

Adding to her accolades, Dagoon also teamed up with Isabela’s Shaner Gabaldon to rule the girls’ 18U doubles, capping a triple-title run that underscored her status as one of the country’s rising junior stars in the nationwide circuit under the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) program, led by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Cosca, for his part, asserted his might in the boys’ 14-and-U division, defeating Balanga’s Cristiano Calingasan, 6-3, 6-2. Though he fell short of a twin-title feat after bowing to Olongapo teammate John David Vytiaco, 6-1, 6-4, in the 16U finals, Cosca emerged as the best performer on the boys’ side, earning co-Most Valuable Player honors with Dagoon.

Overall, Olongapo City players topped six singles divisions, swept two doubles titles, and figured in nearly every final match, affirming the success of the city’s grassroots tennis development, often referred to as the Gateway to Subic Bay’s rising powerhouse.