Belacas, Sanchez share MVP honors

Kresthan Belacas and Cyrelmae Sanchez shared the spotlight as the top performers in the MJFC Araw ng Digos Juniors Age Group Tennis Championships, each winning one title and finishing runner-up in another at the Digos City courts in Davao del Sur over the weekend.

The top-seeded Belacas lived up to his billing in the boys’ 14U singles, dropping just five games in his first three matches before surviving a stern challenge from third-ranked Xian Sugsi in the finals. Belacas produced key breaks at crucial stages to prevail, 6-3, 6-4, and secure the title.

The rising Mlang, Cotabato standout, however, came up short in his bid for a second crown after Kyle Ramos pulled off a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 escape in the boys’ 16U final of the Group 2 tournament, the opening leg of the Palawan Pawnshop Mindanao swing.

The Digos tournament, part of the nationwide junior tennis series organized by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro, kicked off the Mindanao swing, which continues Thursday at the Capital Indoor and Outdoor courts in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

The third stop, the Kidapawan Juniors Championship, is set from 16 to 22 September at the Kidapawan City courts in Cotabato.

Sanchez likewise settled for a title and a runner-up finish after ruling the girls’ 16U division. The Cagayan de Oro ace defeated Justine Gumbao, 6-2, 6-4, but fell short of a second championship as Kirsten Mae Gorre fashioned out a 6-2, 6-3 victory in the girls’ 18U final.

The week-long tournament, hosted by Mayor Josef Fortich Cagas and sanctioned by Philta and Universal Tennis Rating, also produced champions Julius Otoc, Andrei Domasing, Francine Wong and Arissa Macapendeg.