By Jean Malanum

MANILA – Palarong Pambansa medalists Al Zayeed Baid and Shyryn Salazar won their respective divisions in the Wilson-Milo Under-25 tournament at Ateneo de Manila tennis court in Quezon City on Saturday.
Baid, a Grade 12 student at San Beda University-Rizal, defeated Jason Ryan Caminting, 8-4, in the final of the men’s division.
He beat Mark Joseph Javier, 8-5, in the quarterfinals; and Juan Bordeos Laporre, 8-5, in the semifinals.
“Right from the start of the tournament, I was really determined to win the championship. When the draw was released and I saw my competitors, I really had to work hard and had no time to relax while playing,” the 17-year-old from Patikul, Sulu said after the match.
“It feels good to get the trophy and championship because it’s the result of all my training and hard work.”
Baid pocketed the secondary boys’ doubles bronze medal (with Lorenz De Jesus) at the Palarong Pambansa in Cebu City in July.
Meanwhile, Salazar claimed the women’s title over Angela Valdez, 8-3.
In the semifinal, Salazar prevailed over Dane Basijan, 8-3, while Valdez blanked Alyssa Veran, 8-0.
“It feels good to be a champion, especially now that I’m back in the tennis tournament since my time is divided between soft tennis and lawn tennis,” Salazar, a member of the national soft tennis team since July, said.
“It’s an advantage for me to face my teammate in the finals because I know how she plays,” the 22-year-old from Negros Occidental added.
Salazar is a junior Sports Management student at San Beda University-Manila. (PNA)