ERIC Jed Olivarez pounded out a key break early on then pulled off another late in the second set to score a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Fritz Verdad and secure the MITF Open Tennis Championship crown at the Metropolis courts in Iloilo City last Monday.
The 25-year-old product of Western Michigan U fashioned out those breaks in shutout fashions and never gave Verdad a chance to counter, gallantly holding his ground while at serve to spike his remarkable campaign in the Group A tournament that netted him P60,000.
He earlier routed Elemar Sealza 6-1, 6-0, trounced Bryan Saarenas 6-3, 6-1, before surviving Andre Alcantara 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-2. The second-ranked Olivarez then turned back No. 6 Nilo Ledama 6-2, 6-4 before facing Verdad.
He quickly stamped his class in the finals, breaking Verdad in the fourth game before holding sway. But Verdad came into the next frame determined to extend the match, trading serves in the first six games.
