Ayl Gonzaga and Krelz Gecosala boosted their promising tennis careers by emerging as the top performers among more than 200 participants in the MJFC Araw ng Digos City National Juniors Tennis Championships held last Monday, Sept. 8, at the Digos City courts in Davao del Sur.

Gonzaga, fresh off a title win at the Mayor Arcillas Cup in Laguna, clinched the girls’ 16-and-under singles crown with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Mariam Mokalam. The 14-year-old Olongapo native survived a tough semifinal challenge from Princess Placa, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, before stamping her class in the finals.

However, Gonzaga fell short of a potential double-title finish after bowing to Francine Wong of Cagayan de Oro in the 14-and-U finals, 6-3, 7-6(3).

On the other hand, Gecosala dominated the boys’ 14-and-U division, dropping just seven games across four matches. He capped his run with a commanding 6-2, 6-0 win over Kresthan Belacas of Mlang, Cotabato.

But Gecosala’s bid for a second title was halted by fellow Midsayap, North Cotabato native Shaun Globasa, who took the 16-and-U title with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 triumph.

Their twin finals appearances earned Gonzaga and Gecosala co-MVP honors in the week-long Group 2 tournament, held in conjunction with the Araw ng Digos City founding anniversary and hosted by Mayor Josef Fortich Cagas.

The tournament, part of the nationwide junior tennis circuit put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro, continues to be a platform for identifying and nurturing the country’s future tennis stars.

Other winners were Stephen Fuertes (Digos City), who upset top seed Raphael Duay of South Cotabato, 6-0, 6-1, in the boys’ 18-and-U finals; Belacas, who rebounded in the boys’ 12-and-U division, edging Francis Florida, 7-6(1), 6-4; Storm Tozer (Davao City), who prevailed over KC Rabino in a tightly contested 10-and-U unisex duel, 5-4(5), 4-2; Mariam Mokalam (Pikit, Cotabato), who took the girls’ 18-and-U crown via walkover against Dhea Cua; and Leanne Barrido (Antipolo City), who topped the girls’ 12-and-U division with a 7-5, 6-3 win over Daneea Sinsuat.

Gonzaga later teamed up with Barrido as they edged Sinsuat and Place, 8-7(6) in the 14-and-U doubles finals, while AJ Rabino and Carl Eduarte took the title in the boys’ side with an 8-5 victory over Florida and Sheldrick Evangelista.

Wong, meanwhile, partnered with Joy Busig as they claimed the 18-and-U doubles diadem with an 8-2 rout of Camille Clar and Franz Albaño, while Fuertes and Inigo Barrios captured the boys’ 18-and-U double crown with an 8-5 victory over Gecosala and Chad Globasa.

Arissa Macapendeg and KC Rabino pocketed the 10-and-U doubles plum with an 8-2 win over Bern Derecho and Vincent Salarda.