Krelz Gecosala and Kresthan Belacas stole the spotlight in the boys’ division of the Gov. Edwin Jubahib National Juniors Tennis Championships held over the weekend at the DavNor Sports Complex and Tagum City courts in Davao del Norte.
Gecosala, seeded fifth, stunned the field in the boys’ 18-and-under category, winning three straight matches before overpowering No. 4 seed Kurt Alcantara, 6-1, 6-3, in the final. The 16-year-old from Midsayap, North Cotabato also dominated the 16-and-under division, dropping just eight games in three matches, capped by a 6-4, 6-1 win over Wallaen Cabigas.
Belacas, from Mlang, Cotabato, excelled in the younger age groups. He edged Tyronne Caro, 7-5, 6-3, to win the 12-and-under title, then claimed the 14-and-under crown after Caro retired in the second set, trailing 3-6, 4-2.
Their twin victories earned them co-MVP honors, joined by Faith Lazaro of Tagum City, who impressed in the girls’ division.
Lazaro ended Ayl Gonzaga’s winning streak in the Palawan Pawnshop junior circuit with a gritty 0-6, 6-4, 6-2 semifinal comeback. She went on to win the 16-and-under title, 6-2, 6-2, over Telko Ello. Though she lost the 18-and-under finals to Sultan Kudarat’s Sanschena Francisco, 6-3, 6-3, her overall performance secured her a share of the MVP award.
Gonzaga bounced back by winning the girls’ 14-and-under title, 6-2, 6-2, over doubles partner Justine Gumbao, repeating her success in Sultan Kudarat.
Maureen Mamaba (Davao de Oro) upset Alexandrea Bendoy, 6-3, 6-3, to win the girls’ 12-and-under title.
Brandon Luchavez, unseeded, captured the 10-and-under unisex crown, beating top seed Storm Tozer, 5-4(3), 4-0.
Gonzaga also bagged two doubles titles. With Gumbao, she routed Sam Rodriguez and Shan Tuyor, 8-1, in the 14-and-under finals.
She then teamed up with Francisco to defeat Ello and Yana Reyes, 8-3, in the 18-and-under finals.
In boys’ doubles, Alcantara and Cabigas won the 18-and-under title, 8-5, over Harinne Antiola and Jaime Gultiano.
Caro and Gecosala took the 14-and-under crown, beating Belacas and Dimzon, 8-3.
The Group 2 tournament, presented by Dunlop and sanctioned by Philta, was supported by Universal Tennis and ICON Golf and Sports.