HOMEGROWN darling Sydney Ezra Enriquez, reputedly lawn tennis princess in Zambo areas of the Cebuana Lhuillier junior netfest, does not have to wait the challenge of Cagayan de Oro’s top netters who did not campaign in the Southern part of Mindanao Island.
Right in her own turf, the multi-titled Enriquez of Salug, Zamboanga del Norte got surprised by local compatriot Princess Gom-os from the neighboring town of Liloy in the Sindangan leg of the Age-Group tourney slated September 9-12 at the Sindangan Tennis Club in Zamboanga del Norte.
“Palaban nga bata,” tournament director Mario Inguito Craiz said of Gom-os, who yielded earlier the 16-under girls crown to Enriquez in a 7-8 defeat. But in the 18-under girls final, Gom-os summoned all her strength and courage to upset Enriquez in similar score, 8-7.
“We’re supposedly expecting her (Enriquez) to be undefeated in Zamboanga kay wala ang mga top aces sa CdeO like Titan Llavore, Gennifer Pagente and Mary Aubrey Calma. Pero naa gihapoy nitunga nga hidden talent in the person of Princess Gom-os,” one insider of the Nazareth Lawn Tennis Club in Cagayan de Oro told this writer.
Still, the Lanao Norte bets continued to rampage in Sindanagan with Kurt Gervan Bandolis and John Renest Sonsona, both from Tubod, bringing home the gilts.
Bandolis dumped Eliaquim dela Rosa of Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay, 4-2,4-1 to capture the unisex 10-under plum. While John Renest overwhelmed his younger sibling John Stephen Sonsona, 8-4 to claim the premier 18-under boys diadem.
Following in the footsteps of Gom-os was the equally-talented Angel Repaja, who also brought the 14-under girls title to Liloy at the expense of Sindangan pride Rica Labrador, 8-4.
Down but not out, Labrador saved one for host Sindangan by defeating Kristine Margarette Guia Bandolis of Tubod, 8-4 in the 12-under girls final.
Other winners were Nash Agustines of Oroquieta City, Stephen Zion Guia of Dipolog City and Armando Magallanes of Iligan City.
Agustines whipped John Christopher Sonsona of Tubod, 8-2 in the 12-under boys final, Guia edged another Tubod player Uzziel Pepito, 8-6 in the 14-under boys championship and Magallanes conquered the 16-under boys throne by nosing out Guia, 8-6.
A total OF 140 players took part in the Group 5 event supported by the LGU of Sindangan through Mayor Nili Florentino Sy who provided free accommodation and fellowship night to all of the participants.