By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Kathlyn Bugna reaffirmed her status as the brightest young star in Philippine tennis after pulling off a rare three-title sweep at the Dr. Pablo Olivarez Sr. National Juniors Championships at the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque City.
The 14-year-old prodigy from Negros Occidental’s La Carlota City showcased a blend of power, composure and championship poise beyond her years, dominating not only her own age group but also older divisions in a performance that underscored her growing supremacy on the court.
Already the top seed in the girls’ 14-and-under and 16-and-under categories, Bugna justified her billing with a flawless campaign in both events.
She crushed second seed Shaner Gabaldon, 6-1, 6-3, to secure the 14-U crown, then dispatched fourth seed Astrid Cablitas, 6-2, 6-2, to clinch the 16-U title.
Her most remarkable feat, however, came in the 18-and-under division — a bracket that usually tests even the most seasoned juniors.
After a resounding 6-1, 6-0 semifinal rout of second seed Dania Bulanadi, Bugna overcame a gritty challenge from Melatiah Pascua, who earlier stunned top seed Izabelle Camcam, before prevailing, 6-3, 7-5, in the finals.
The triple triumph added to Bugna’s growing list of achievements, coming on the heels of back-to-back title runs in the Congressman Eric Olivarez National Open, where she also ruled the 14-U and 16-U events.
Her current winning streak now stretches to 10 championships across five major cities — Iloilo, Bacolod, Roxas, Kalibo, and Cebu — cementing her reputation as one of the most dominant junior players in recent years.
Not content with her singles success, Bugna also teamed up with Isabel Calingasan to capture the girls’ 14-U doubles crown, bringing her Parañaque trophy haul to four.
What makes Bugna’s rise even more remarkable is not only her power and precision, but also her composure and court intelligence — qualities rarely seen in someone her age.
Her ascent is a testament to the Team Batang Onay grassroots program, which has been dedicated to discovering and nurturing raw regional talent through consistent national exposure and competition./ASC, WDJ