MPPT Invitational: Parañaque Titans Outlast Rizal Ilustrados in Thrilling Final, Win Inaugural Leg Title
The Parañaque Titans won the first-ever Maharlika Pilipinas Pickleball Tour (MPPT) Invitational on Sunday after defeating the Rizal Ilustrados, 3-1, in a thrilling finale to a two-day showcase at PHCP in Pampanga.
Parañaque Titans Seal Spot in Finale
The Titans carried momentum from a strong opening day on Saturday into Championship Sunday, sealing a spot in the semis to face the Rizal Ilustrados. And it was a sensational semis showdown to say the least, with Parañaque outlasting Rizal, 3-1, on the heels of Leander Lazaro going unbeaten.
Lazaro and partner Matt Navarro drew first blood for Parañaque in Men’s Doubles with a convincing 11-2 victory over Rizal’s Joma Pague and Alving Credo. The Ilustrados’ Anna Clarice Patrimonio and Noelle Zoleta tied things up with an 11-6 triumph over the Titans’ Sarah Jane Lim and Fatima Amirul, before the mixed doubles pair of Ruben Gonzales Jr. and Jessica Agra gave Parañaque back the lead with a close 11-9 victory over Rizal’s Hans Cabellon and April Cuizon.
Lazaro and Lim then teamed up in the second mixed doubles match and outlasted Pague and Zoleta, 11-7, to tow the Parañaque Titans to the finals.
Abra River Paddlers Make It to Finale
On the other bracket were the Abra River Paddlers, who also brought their fine form from Saturday into Championship Sunday. They made it to the semis opposite the Alfonso Siklab and authored a close sweep to book their finals ticket.
Abra started out with the pair of Johnny Arcilla and Ken Dela Cruz surviving their Alfonso counterparts Kim Saraza and Mark Directo, 13-11, in Men’s Doubles for a 1-0 lead. The River Paddlers then went up 2-0 after the pair of Patricia Raymundo and Macy Ybañez defeated Siklab’s Novi Melendez and Meds Saraza, 11-6, in Women’s Doubles. Abra then finished things off by winning the first Mixed Doubles match, with Allen Manlangit and Shy Mae Gatalan edging out Al Quiza and Karyll Salas, 11-9.
Parañaque Titans Make History
In the end, the two best teams fittingly faced off in the finals of the inaugural leg of the MPPT Invitational. But what seemed destined to be a nip-and-tuck finale turned into a one-sided show of force from the Parañaque Titans, who authored a mighty sweep of the Abra River Paddlers to win the leg and make MPPT history.
Once more, Lazaro got Parañaque off to a rousing start, teaming up with Matt Navarro for a commanding 11-1 victory in Men’s Doubles against Abra’s Allen Manlangit and Ken Dela Cruz. Lim and Amirul then teamed up to win the Women’s Doubles match against Patricia Raymundo and Macy Ybañez, 11-6, and give the Titans a 2-0 advantage.
Finally, with the title and ₱350,000 within reach, Gonzales and Agra teamed up once more to beat Johnny Arcilla and Shy Mae Gatalan, 11-9, and hand over the historic title to the Parañaque Titans.
