Jan Cadee Dagoon delivered a pair of commanding victories to dominate the Mayor Arlene Arcillas National Juniors Tennis Championships, while Jan Caleb Villeno posted a title win and a runner-up finish to share MVP honors at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex over the weekend.
Dagoon, a rising star from Olongapo City, lived up to her top billing by storming through the girls’ 16-and-under singles division.
She capped her run with a resounding 6-1, 6-1 victory over No. 2 seed and doubles partner Ayl Gonzaga in the finals.
She carried her blistering form into the 18-and-under championship match, overwhelming second seed Izabelle Camcam with the same emphatic 6-1, 6-1 scoreline to emerge as the tournament’s lone “double” singles winner in the Group 2 competition presented by Dunlop.
Dagoon actually secured three titles overall, teaming up with Gonzaga to capture the 18-and-under doubles crown with an 8-2 rout of Cristina Reyes and Jasmine Solis.
On the boys’ side, Villeno, a native of San Pablo City, made his presence felt by ruling the 12-and-under singles bracket with a 6-0 (ret.) win over doubles partner Jairus Peralta.
Although he fell short in his bid for a second singles title after bowing to Anthony Cosca, 6-3, 6-2, in the 14-and-under finals, Villeno’s impressive campaign was enough to earn him co-MVP honors alongside Dagoon.
Cosca’s triumph added another feather to Olongapo City’s cap, while fourth seed Julio Naredo of Quezon City staged a gritty comeback in the 16-and-under finals, rallying past No. 2 seed Rafa Monte de Ramos, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Naredo’s victory mirrored his success in last week’s Dr. Pablo Olivarez Sr. tournament.
Third seed France Dilao and top seed Terrence Batallones also secured titles on home soil.
Dilao outlasted last week’s champion Jonathan Higa in a tense three-set battle, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, to claim the boys’ 18-and-under crown. Meanwhile, Batallones edged Rafael Cablitas in the 10-and-under unisex final, 5-4(5), 1-4, 10-7.
Gonzaga rebounded from her earlier setback in the 18-and-under singles final by capturing the girls’ 16-and-under crown, fending off Francine Wong in a dramatic tiebreak, 6-3, 7-6(16). Antipolo’s Leanne Barrido also impressed, scoring a commanding 6-3, 6-0 victory over Clara Hosaka in the girls’ 12-and-under finals.
In doubles action, Dilao and Naredo bagged the boys’ 18-and-under title with an 8-1 romp over Monte de Ramos and Samuel Tulop.
Isabel Ataiza and Michaela Suarez dominated Precious Valdez and Jasmine Solis, 8-1, to capture the girls’ 14-and-under doubles crown.
Villeno and Peralta also bounced back in doubles, edging Tyronne Caro and Cosca in a tightly fought 8-7(5) thriller to secure the boys’ 12-and-under championship.
Batallones completed his own “double” after partnering with Cablitas to clinch the 10-and-under doubles title, scoring an 8-4 win over Xander Cas and Arkin Rescober.
The tournament was sanctioned by Philta and supported by Universal Tennis and ICON Golf & Sports, with Sta. Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas hosting the two-week event as part of the city’s continuing commitment to grassroots sports development.
