MANILA — Kathlyn Bugna and Kresthan Belacas stamped their dominance on the national junior tennis stage, sweeping three titles each to emerge as the biggest winners in the Gov. Edwin Jubahib National Juniors Tennis Championships at the DavNor Sports Tourism Complex in Tagum City.
Bugna, a 16-year-old standout from La Carlota City, delivered a commanding return to competitive play by ruling the girls’ 16-and-under and 18-and-under singles divisions before sealing a triple crown with a doubles victory in the 18-and-U category.
She imposed her authority early, dismantling Francine Wong of Cagayan de Oro City, 6-3, 6-2, in the 16-and-U finals while conceding only six games across four matches in the division.
Bugna raised her level further in the 18-and-U finals, blanking Wong in the opening set and cruising to a 6-0, 6-1 triumph. She then partnered with Teresinha Calingasan to defeat Teiko Ello and Maureen Mamaba, 8-4, completing a flawless campaign.
Matching Bugna’s feat, Belacas of Mlang, Cotabato also secured three titles to share Most Valuable Player honors in the Philta-sanctioned tournament backed by Universal Tennis Ranking, ICON Golf & Sports, and the Palawan Pawnshop Group.
Belacas dominated the boys’ 14-and-U finals with a lopsided 6-1, 6-0 victory over Archie Roceta, before overcoming top seed Rein Czar Hayana in a gripping 16-and-U championship match, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-1.
He capped his run by teaming up with Joaquin Dacyon to edge Francis Dimzon and Jay Paspie, 8-5, in the 14-and-U doubles final.
Despite setbacks against Bugna in two finals, Wong salvaged a title in the girls’ 14-and-U division with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Justine Gumbao.
Jhazz Fernando clinched the boys’ 18-and-U crown after rallying past Harinne Antiola, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. Fernando earlier ousted third seed Daniel Giducos in the semifinals, while Antiola stunned top seed Isaac Sanke en route to the finals.
In the 12-and-U division, Kyrie Ugay of Cagayan de Oro overwhelmed Arissa Macapendge, 6-1, 6-1, to claim the girls’ title, while Makati’s Liam Harrow secured the boys’ championship with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Francis Dimzon.
In doubles play, Santino Danganon and James Madalo upset top seeds Giducos and Sanke, 8-2, to capture the boys’ 18-and-U crown. Aiya Poculan and Samantha Rodriguez also prevailed in the girls’ 14-and-U doubles finals, beating Gumbao and Macapendeg, 8-5.
The tournament marked the final leg of a five-stop Mindanao swing, which also included competitions in General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat, and Cotabato, underscoring efforts to strengthen grassroots tennis and identify emerging talents nationwide./PN
