Amazona, Dizon cop 16U titles

TOP-SEEDS Jeleardo Amazona of Mati City, Davao Oriental and Jenni Celine Dizon of Davao City lived up to their billing by bagging the 16-under titles of the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw Age-Group Tennis Championships held at GSIS Heights Tennis Club in Matina over the weekend.

Amazona, who won't be seeing action in a Palarong Pambansa for the very first time, survived past Christian Fel Lopez of the Island Garden City of Samal, 6-4, 7-5 in boys' finals.

It can be recalled that the doubles team of multi-titled Amazona lost in the secondary boys finals of the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet in Tagum City late last month, thus, denying him a slot in the Palaro-bound regional delegation competing in Dumaguete City on April 21 to 27.

The 15-year-old Ateneo de Davao University student Dizon, for her part, defeated Khrizzan Dumlao of Tadeco, 6-4, 6-4, in their girls titular clash. This came on the heels of Dizon's gold medal finish in secondary girls singles of the recently-concluded Davraa Meet. She will again don the region's colors in the upcoming Palaro.

Four other Davao City players also emerged champions in their respective divisions.

John David Velez spanked Jose Vincent Comendador of Kidapawan City 6-2,6-2 in 10-under unisex finals while Lordrense Pacheco escaped a 3-6, 6-1, 13-11 win over fellow Dabawenyo Justin Guira for the boys 14-under crown.

Jonathan Palac bested Emer Cariga, 6-2, 4-6, 10-3, in boys 18-under finals even as Dana Abad routed Faye Carvajal of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, 6-0, 6-1, in girls 12-under.

In boys 12-under, Mark Alfred Directo of Isulan Sultan Kudarat overwhelmed Joshua Regino of Mati City 6-2,6-4.

Rosvel Ann Binondo of Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte and Abegail Icoy of Malita, Davao del Sur also shared the limelight. Binondo subdued Patricia Velez of Davao City, 6-1, 6-4, in girls 14-under, while Icoy outclassed Jeana Mae Galinato of Davao City 6-1, 6-2, in girls 18-under.

The champions pocketed P1,500 cash prize each while the runners-up claimed P1,000 apiece from Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office (SDD-CMO) staff Aleli Saberon and Linda Gelbolingo and Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) regional vice-president Juanito "Titong" Cansino Jr. The winners also received certificates.

Cansino thanked the City Government of Davao for sponsoring the Group 3 Philta-sanctioned meet, Slazenger as official ball, and GSIS HTC president Jose Libron Jr. for hosting the annual tournament organized as part of the Araw ng Dabaw Sports Festival.