Brimming with confidence, Jan Cadee Dagoon and Krelz Gecosala tightened their grip on the Mindanao swing of the Palawan Pawnshop Junior Tennis Circuit, powering their way to another pair of title romps in the Governor’s Cup Championships at the Capitol Sports Complex last weekend.
Fresh from their commanding performances in the Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao tournament in General Santos City, Dagoon and Gecosala sustained their blistering form to share Most Valuable Player honors for the second straight week — and moved closer to what could be a rare sweep of the Mindanao series.
The top-ranked Dagoon of Olongapo City once again proved her class, defeating local ace and doubles partner Justine Gumbao twice. She cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 victory in the girls’ 16U singles finals before completing a dominant 6-2, 6-3 win in the 18U championship of the Group 2 event presented by Dunlop and sanctioned by Philta.
Not to be outdone, Gecosala showcased his own brilliance. The top-seeded standout from Midsayap, Cotabato dismantled Julius Otoc of Pigcawayan, 6-3, 6-3, to seize the boys’ 16U crown, then overwhelmed hometown bet Charles Gallo, 6-3, 6-0, to capture the 18-and-U title in the tournament held in honor of Gov. Pax Ali Mangudadatu.
Their dominance extended to doubles play.
Dagoon teamed up with Gumbao to rout Lucia Calingasan and Princess Obaniana, 8-3, in the girls’ 18U finals, while Gecosala partnered with Leighton Sira to upend top seeds Otoc and Tom Songcayauon, 8-5, in the boys’ championship match.
With back-to-back MVP finishes and multiple titles in consecutive legs, Dagoon and Gecosala have emerged as the clear players to beat in the Mindanao swing. The circuit now shifts to Matalam for the third Mindanao leg. Digos City will host the penultimate stop before the regional swing concludes in Tagum City.
While Dagoon and Gecosala stole the spotlight, other young standouts also delivered impressive performances.
Gumbao delighted the home crowd by overpowering Davao’s Daneea Sinsuat, 6-2, 6-2, to rule the girls’ 14U division. Kresthan Belacas of Mlang, Cotabato rallied from a set down to turn back Olongapo’s Yuan Torrente, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, and clinch the boys’ 14U title.
Sinsuat bounced back from her setback by drubbing KC Rabino of General Santos City, 6-1, 6-1, to secure the girls’ 12U crown, while Torrente likewise recovered to defeat provincemate Joaquin Dacyon, 6-1, 6-2, in the boys’ 12U finals.
In other doubles results, Chandra Felecio and Kathryina Makabangkit stunned top seeds Abby Castigador and Javnelle Castro, 8-1, to capture the girls’ 14U plum. Belacas and Rabino also prevailed in the boys’ 14U finals with a similar 8-1 romp over Dacyon and Torrente.