DAVAO City netter Andre Banate, seeded fourth, bowed to third-seed Jurence Mendoza, 3-6, 0-6, in the boys 16-under finals of the 28th Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Age-Group Open Tournament in Paco, PCA Indoor Clayshell Courts recently.
Banate, a fourth-year High School student at the Ateneo de Davao University, wounded up with the runner-up honors instead in the prestigious netfest sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta).
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He earlier stunned second-seed Arjohn dela Cruz, 6-2, 2-6, 6-0, in the singles semi-finals after he demolished Enrique Ferrer, 6-1, 6-2 in the quarter-finals and shutout Harvey Lakmani, 6-0, 6-0 in the second round.
He drew a first round bye along with top-seed Juan Paolo Cansino, also of Davao City, who was sent home packing after losing in the second round.
Banate and Cansino would have paired for the doubles event that was cancelled due to bad weather condition in Manila.
National University Games (Uni-Games) 2009 bronze medalists Mark Anthony Alcoseba and El Santo Santos, meanwhile, will try to reap honors for Davao City as they compete in the upcoming PCA Men's Open. (MLSA)