MVP. Anthony Bjorn Castigador (left) pocketed four titles at the Palawan Pawshop National Juniors Tennis Championship at the Iloilo City Sports Academy hard courts on Monday (Sept. 2, 2024). Also in the photo are doubles partner Rizzjun Miles Labindao and Iloilo City Sports Academy coach Alvin Santiago (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Anthony Bjorn Castigador of Iloilo City was named Most Valuable Player in the boys' division after winning four titles at the Palawan Pawnshop National Juniors Tennis Championships in Iloilo City on Monday.
Castigador won the U14 title over Rizzjun Miles Labindao of Buruangga, Aklan (6-3, 4-6, 15-13), and annexed the U16 crown after prevailing over Jan Iann Iturriaga of Sara, Iloilo (1-6, 6-3, 10-5) at the Iloilo City Sports Academy hard courts.
He settled for a runner-up finish in the premier U18 category after losing to Labindao in the final, 5-7, 6-7 (11). They later bagged the doubles title over Iturriaga and Raj Montaniel, 8-4.
Castigador and Labindao also pocketed the U14 doubles title with an 8-4 victory over Timothy Alivio and Jasper Gozon.
"I'm so happy to reach five finals," said 12-year-old Castigador, a Grade 7 student at Central Philippines University.
"I did not expect to reach the final in five categories because my opponents are strong. I am the youngest at 12, competing against 14 and 16 years old players," he added.
Meanwhile, Ave Maria Policarpio of Muntinlupa earned the MVP award in the girls' division.
She defeated Jannah Justalero of Iloilo City, 6-4, 6-4, to secure the U14 title and was runner-up in the U16 after a 6-4, 1-6, 8-10 loss to Maria Alexandra Onte of Iloilo City, 4-6, 6-1, 10-8, in the final.
In the U18 category, Aleeva Feonne Suace won the singles title over Princess Laurine Tana of Kalibo, Aklan 6-3, 6-4. She also bagged the doubles crown, teaming up with Jea Maxine Panizales, to conquer Onte and Tana, 8-7(4).
Other winners in the singles category were Diana Alcarde (girls U12) and Prince John Crisosto (unisex U10) of Iloilo City, and Everett Peter Niere of Bogo, Cebu (boys U12), while in the doubles were Crisosto and Alejandra Sangrador (unisex U10), and Alcarde and Princess Crisosto (girls U14). (PNA)
