By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Dhea Cua showed her brilliant form to capture three titles in the Gov. Edwin Jubahib Cup national tennis championships at Davao del Norte Tourism Sports Complex last Sunday.
The Kidapawan City native ousted top seed Camille Clar, 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinal before hacking out a 6-3, 6-2 win over No. 2 Faith Lazaro to secure the girls’ singles 16-and-under title.
Cua sustained her momentum in the premier 18-and-under category, claiming victory in the singles over No. 1 Chelsea Bernaldez, 6-1, 6-2, and doubles with Sanschena Francisco.
In the boys’ division, top-ranked Marcus Go bagged the 12-and-under title after demolishing No. 2 Francis Dimzon, 6-0, 6-0. He advanced to the final when, leading 1-0 in the first, his opponent, David Lazaro, retired.
Go, who is from Quezon City, annexed the 14-and-under plum with a shutout victory over Raymond Manatad in the final.
Cua and Go were both named MVP honors in the two-leg tournament organized by Palawan Pawnshop headed by president and chief executive officer Bobby Castro.
Other singles winners were local Jason Battad (boys U16), Davao City’s Rossel Judabal (boys U18) and Rhea Palac (girls U14), Christian Otig of Davao Oriental (U10 unisex) and Sultan Kudarat’s Justine Gumbao (girls U12).
Champions in the doubles were Judabal and Bench Neri (boys U18), Gian Luna and Jhazz Fernando (boys U14), Palac and Sinsuat (girls U14), and Dimzon and Otig (U10 unisex).
Action in the tennis circuit sanctioned by Philta and UTR Rating moves to Digos City for the Mayor Josef Fortich Cagas Championships on Feb. 22-26 followed by the Gov. Yvonne Cagas leg on Feb. 29-March 4 in Bansalan, both in Davao del Sur.
Players may contact event organizer Bobby Mangunay at 09154046464. (PNA)
