By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negrense Kathlyn Bugna delivered another commanding performance, sweeping three titles in the Bagong Pilipinas Age-Group Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center to reinforce her growing reputation as one of the country’s brightest young prospects.
Fresh from a similar three-title romp in last month’s Bagong Pilipinas Juniors Age-Group Championships in Roxas City, Capiz, the Batang Onay / RSB standout carried her red-hot form into Manila with authority.
Bugna overwhelmed Francine Wong, 6-0, 6-2, to capture the girls’ 16-and-under singles crown, then followed it up with a clinical 6-3, 6-0 victory over Chiara Bate in the 18-and-under finals.
Unfazed by the step-up in competition, she also ruled the 18-and-under doubles event, teaming up with Tori Deocampo to defeat Jana Bermejo and Khalilah Imalay, 8-4, and complete yet another three-title sweep.
Her sustained dominance across multiple age divisions underscores not only her versatility and composure, but also her readiness for higher-level competition.
More importantly, it highlights the success of the Bagong Pilipinas circuit as a vital talent-search platform, providing promising players like Bugna with consistent exposure, high-level match play, and a pathway for long-term development under the Philippine Sports Commission’s grassroots program./ASC, WDJ