Josshua Kinaadman staged a remarkable comeback against doubles partner Jed Olivarez, securing a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory to claim the Dagitab Festival National Open Tennis Championship crown at the City of Naga courts in Cebu last Thursday.
Ranked fourth, Kinaadman maintained composure after an early stumble, mounting a resurgence in the second frame, and delivering a strong finishing kick in the third to defeat the recent Rep. Edwin Olivarez Cup winner. This hard-fought win earned him the hotly-disputed title worth P60,000.
However, Johnny Arcilla and Rolly Saga thwarted Kinaadman and Olivarez in the Open doubles, overcoming the fancied duo in a marathon duel, 0-6, 7-6(6), 18-16, in the P330,000 event sponsored by Mayor Val Chiong. Arcilla and Saga claimed the P50,000 prize.
Despite falling short of a sweep, Kinaadman’s triumph in the singles showcased his tenacity and skill, avenging his final loss to Olivarez in the Hagedorn Open last August.
In the singles match, Kinaadman and Olivarez exchanged serves in the first four games, with breaks in the next two. Olivarez broke Kinaadman again in the seventh, taking control. Undeterred, Kinaadman broke Olivarez in the third game of the second set, battling to a hold-hold game for the rest of the set and forcing a decider with a shutout win in the 10th game.
Overcoming a 0-30 deficit in the first game of the third set, Kinaadman secured a break and, despite conceding his serve in the fourth, orchestrated a tightly contested decider. He broke Olivarez in the fifth, held serve in the next, and won the last two games to complete the come-from-behind victory.
Kinaadman’s win led the winners in the week-long Group A tournament, wrapping up another successful season of the country’s longest-running circuit, sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
In other results, Ormoc’s Kenzo Brodeth dominated local bet Jonathan Largo, 6-1, 6-1, to capture the boys’ 18-and-under grand slam juniors. Lapu-Lapu City’s Tiffany Nocos secured the girls’ trophy with a 6-3, 6-2 reversal over No. 2 Kate Imalay from Bato, Leyte.
Cebu’s Juvels Velos and Samantha Ortega topped the consolation pool, and Velos and Brodeth later teamed up to win the 18-and-U boys’ doubles title. The tournament also awarded UTP (Unified Tennis Philippines) and UTR (Universal Tennis) points.
Other winners included (Classified doubles) Jonito Crisosto and Danny Sajonia (B), Erolito Remedio and Virgilio Vidal (C+), Renante Repunte and Joveno Garcia (C-), and Francis Aclan and Galeos Columbus (D).
Leading the Legends category champions were Mark Alcoseba (men’s singles 35s), Celestino Solon (45s), Alcoseba and Noel Salupado (doubles 30s), JD Benitez and Solon (doubles 40s), and Benitez and Elmer Yac (doubles 50s).
