ILOILO City – Anthony Castigador showcased his dominance by clinching four championships in the PPS-PEPP Iloilo City Charter Day National Juniors Tennis Championship on Monday at the La Paz Tennis Court here.
Castigador engaged in a thrilling, grueling battle with No. 4 seed and doubles partner Rizzjun Labindao from Aklan before scoring a 6-3, 4-6, 15-13 victory in the boys’ 14-and-under finals.
The homegrown talent faced another tough challenge in the 16-and-under championship but managed to outlast Jan Iann Iturriaga from Sara, Iloilo, 1-6, 6-3, 10-5, in the finals.
Castigador also competed in the premier 18-and-under category but fell short, as Labindao exacted revenge with a dramatic 7-5, 7-6(11) victory in the finals.
Castigador and Labindao, meanwhile, triumphed over Iturriaga and Raj Montaniel in the 18-and-under doubles before also bagging the 14-and-under doubles gold by defeating Timothy Alivio and Jasper Gozon.
Ave Maria Policarpio of Muntinlupa City, meanwhile, dominated unranked Jannah Justalero, 6-4, 6-4, to claim the girls’ 14-and-under championship.
Policarpio, however, missed out on matching Castigador’s two-title achievement, as she fell to Maria Alexandra Onte, 4-6, 6-1, 10-8, in the 16-and-under finals.
Other notable winners in the week-long tournament include local talents Aleeva Suace, Diana Alcarde, and Prince John Crisosto, along with Bogo, Cebu’s Everett Niere.
Third-ranked Suace defeated No. 4 Princess Tana, 6-3, 6-4, to capture the girls’ 18-and-under trophy, Alcarde defeated Stella Policarpio in the girls’ 12-and-under finals.
Crisosto shocked No. 2 seed Mikaela Chavez, 4-2, 5-4(1), to claim the 10-and-under unisex title, while top-ranked Niere edged out De Juan, 6-3, 2-6, 11-9, in the boys’ 12-and-under championship.
In doubles action, Suace and Maxine Panizales edged out Onte and Tana, in the 18-and-under girls finals, Alcarde and Princess Crisosto routed Siobe Sangrador and Joy Tejada, in the 14-and-under girls doubles finale, while Prince Crisosto and Sangrador defeated Joy Castigador and Chavez, 8-3, to claim the 10-and-under crown./PN
