Bandala, Padilla seek to sustain run in PPS Liloy

Coming off a pair of imposing stints in Sindangan, Pete Bandala and Judy Ann Padilla go for multiple wins anew in Liloy, also in Zambo del Norte, as they banner the cast in the PPS-PEPP Mayor Roberto Uy Jr. national age group tournament which got going Friday.

The 10-year-old Bandala tries to make it two-in-row in the 10-unisex and 12-and-under categories which he ruled in emphatic fashion last week with the Dipolog star also going all-out to duplicate his two-title feat in doubles play of the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.

Foiled in her own three-peat bid, Padilla tries it again in her side of the draw this week, including the 16-U diadem she lost to Sindangan’s Rica Labrador, who is also in the roster along with Jalia Elumba, Christine Gulagula and Chole Omos, all ready to spoil the rising star from Ozamiz City.

Padilla is also bracing for a fierce fightback from top seed Sydney Enriquez in the premier 18-U singles category after the latter failed to live up to her billing and bowed to doubles partner Labrador in the semis.

She, however, is tipped to roll past her rivals in the 14-U division of the event serving as part of the Mindanao swing of the country’s longest talent-search put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Keen competition is also seen in the boys’ side with Eric Tangub, Al Dree Pan, Russel Daarol and Nash Agustines expected to slug it out for top honors in the 18-U section with Agustines gaining the top seeding in the 16-U play that also features Aslan Carbonilla, Neo Maratas and Daarol.

Carbonilla and Maratas, meanwhile, headline the 14-U cast that includes Sean Esick and Penshoppe Erquita while Cielo Gonzales and Marlyn Mesiona are set to dispute the girls’ 12-U diadem in the event sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.