Davao’s Mark Alcoseba scored a “twinkill” in the PPS-PEPP Escudero Cup 2019, upending top seed Alberto Anasta, 7-5, 6-3, in the men’s singles then teaming up with Noel Damian Jr. to repulse Emmanuel Fuelas and Harvey Gilbuena, 7-5, 6-2, in the doubles finals at the Aera Tennis Club in San Pablo City recently.
The second ranked Alcoseba and Anasta advanced to the finals in varying fashions with the former dominating his rivals in the lower half of the 32-player draw, including a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Deo Talatayod in the semis.
In contrast, Anasta, from Himaymaylan, Negros Occidental, needed a pair of extra sets to earn a crack at the crown, nipping a tough Aljuthor Moralde, 4-6, 7-5, 10-6, in the quarters and then thwarting Damian in a grueling semis battle, 6-4, 4-6, 15-13.
But Alcoseba proved steadier in the finals, wearing down Anasta in the first frame and sustaining his form to fashion out the straight-set victory in the revival of the tournament last held in 2006 and held as part of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala circuit headed by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.