IT TOOK Alubijid pride Merkisslyn Ubay-ubay to travel all the way from Alubijid, Misamis Oriental to Caraga region to score the biggest victory in her tennis career.
Ubay-ubay dumped Joshea Dominique Malazarte of Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, 6-2, 6-0 in the under-16 girls final, then whipped homegrown bet Angelly Esguerra in the under-18 girls final to emerge as the winningest netter in the Butuan City leg of the 2017 Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group tennis championships held April 30 to May 4 at Butuan Capitol Tennis Club in Butuan City.
“Nibunga ra gyod iyang mga hilak sa training (Her tears of sacrifices during training practices finally bore fruit),” said Merkisslyn’s guardian Henrick Ubay-ubay Garcia, who thanked Vizayas-Mindanao organizer Mario Inguito Craiz for the opportunity.
Merkisslyn’s conquest in the Timber City had coach Francis Tanchoco Gutierrez applauding with these words: “I have no doubt about her abilities.”
A total of 112 entries participated in the Butuan leg that will be followed by the Surigao City leg on May 5 to 9.
Here’s the complete results:
10 & Under Unisex
Champion: Steffi Marithe Aludo (Trento, Agusan del Sur)
Runner-up: Dirk Andre Quezada (Lianga, Surigao del Sur)
Score: 4/1, 4/0
12 & Under Boys
Champion: Vince Cerna (Butuan City, Agusan del Norte)
Runner-up: Meely Homer Roperos (San Francisco, Surigao del Sur)
Score: 6/2, 6/1
12 & Under Girls
Champion: Hilary Sophie Paas (Carrascal, Surigao del Sur)
Runner-up: Denise Arreza (Carrascal, Surigao del Sur)
Score: 6/1, 6/1
14 & Under Boys
Champion: Aaron Jacque Geromo (Molave, Zamboanga del Sur)
Runner-up: Harland Hogan (Cebu City, Cebu)
Score: 6/1, 6/3
14 & Under Girls
Champion: Joshea Dominic Malazarte (Buenavista, Agusan del Norte)
Runner-up: YraMontecarlo (Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte)
Score: 6/2, 6/2
16 & Under Boys
Champion: Marc Nicole Suson (Cebu City, Cebu)
Runner-up: Stephen Zion Guia (Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte)
Score: 6/3, 1/0(ret.)
16 & Under Girls
Champion: Merkisslyn Ubay-ubay (Alubijid, Misamis Oriental)
Runner-up: Joshea Dominique Malazarte (Buenavista, Agusan del Norte)
Score: 6/2, 6/0
18 & Under Boys
Champion: Stephen Zion Guia (Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte)
Runner-up: Vaughn Spencer Codilla (Surigao City, Agusan del Norte)
Score: 6/3, 6/4
18 & Under Girls
Champion: Merkisslyn Ubay-ubay (Alubijid, Misamis Oriental)
Runner-up: Angelly Esguerra (Butuan City, Agusan del Norte)
Score: 6/4, 6/0
DOUBLES EVENT
10 & Under Unisex Doubles
Champion: Steffi MaritheAludo / Dirk Andre Quezada
Runner-up: ArrianeCorreos / Justin Kennedy Detalla
Score: 4/1, 4/0
14 & Under Boys Doubles
Champion: Kirby Quijada / Vince Cerna
Runner-up: Aaron Jacque Geromo / Harland Hogan
Score: 8/5
14 & Under Girls Doubles
Champion: May Arrabella Alejandro / JosheaMalazarte
Runner-up: Shara Faith Correos / Hilary Sophie Paas
Score: 8/3
18 & Under Boys Doubles
Champion: Prince Bo Lastimosa / Emanuel Pedrosa
Runner-up: JunmarCahatian / John Carlo Mar
Score: 8/6
18 & Under Girls Doubles
Champion: Kyla Jane Genon / AbbygailSingcol
Runner-up: Angelly Esguerra / Nanami Suzuki
Score: 8/5
