MANILA — Teenage sensation Kathlyn Bugna continued her blazing run in Philippine tennis after completing another triple-title sweep in the Bagong Pilipinas Age-Group Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center, further solidifying her emergence as one of the country’s brightest junior prospects.
The Batang Onay/RSB standout dominated multiple divisions anew, capturing the girls’ 16-and-under singles, girls’ 18-and-under singles, and girls’ 18-and-under doubles crowns in emphatic fashion to highlight another stellar campaign in the Group 2 tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association and Universal Tennis.
Fresh from a similar three-title romp in last month’s Bagong Pilipinas Juniors Age-Group Championships in Roxas City, Capiz, Bugna carried her momentum into Manila with authority.
She crushed Francine Wong, 6-0, 6-2, to rule the girls’ 16-and-under singles division before dismantling Chiara Bate, 6-3, 6-0, in the girls’ 18-and-under finals.
Bugna then capped her dominant campaign by teaming up with Tori Deocampo to beat Jana Bermejo and Khalilah Imalay, 8-4, in the girls’ 18-and-under doubles finals and complete another three-title sweep.
Her sustained dominance across multiple age divisions underscored not only her versatility and composure, but also her readiness for higher-level competition.
More importantly, it highlighted the success of the Bagong Pilipinas circuit as a vital talent-search platform, providing promising players like Bugna with consistent exposure, high-level match play, and a pathway for long-term development under the Philippine Sports Commission’s grassroots program.
On the boys’ side, Miguel Lagac III matched Bugna’s feat to share MVP honors in the tournament.
The Quezon City standout overwhelmed Nicholas Andal, 6-0, 6-1, in the boys’ 16-and-under finals before defeating Yñigo Naredo, 6-4, 6-2, to secure the boys’ 18-and-under title.
Other young standouts also delivered impressive performances, underscoring the depth of emerging tennis talent nationwide.
San Pedro City’s Tyronne Caro edged Jairus Peralta, 6-4, 7-6(5), to capture the boys’ 14-and-under crown, while Wong bounced back from her loss to Bugna with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Michaela Suarez in the girls’ 14-and-under finals.
Raven Licayan of Cavite outlasted Noel Zoleta, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, to clinch the boys’ 12-and-under title, while Iloilo’s Kate Chavez dominated Ellythia Comia, 6-1, 6-1, in the girls’ counterpart.
In doubles action, Naredo and Cristiano Calingasan nipped Gavin Kraut and Tristan Licayan, 8-6, in the boys’ 18-and-under finals. Jaynelle Castro and Athena Liwag routed Teresinha Calingasan and Chavez, 8-3, to win the girls’ 14-and-under title, while Peralta and Jan Caleb Villeno overwhelmed Caro and Raven Licayan, 8-1, in the boys’ 14-and-under division./PN
