Apalit: Miguel Ricardo Lagac III, a promising tennis player from Ateneo, is setting his sights on achieving greater success in his sporting career. The 15-year-old showcased his burgeoning talent by winning three titles at the Zopiya Morales National Juniors Tennis Championships in Apalit, Pampanga, marking his first tournament appearance of the year.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lagac, who was seeded No. 5 in the U16 category, impressively defeated higher-ranked players to claim the title. He overcame No. 2 seed Troan Vytiaco with a score of 6-2, 6-0 in the quarterfinals, bested No. 3 seed Antonio Bengzon 6-0, 6-1 in the semifinals, and triumphed over No. 1 seed Anthony Cosca with a commanding 6-0, 6-0 victory in the finals. In the U18 category, despite being unseeded, Lagac continued his winning streak by defeating No. 2 seed Felizardo Lota III 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinals and once again outplaying No. 1 seed Vytiaco 6-0, 6-1 in the finals. Additionally, Lagac partnered with Elijah Okano in the U18 doubles category to secure a win against Cyrus Javier and Vytiaco, finishing with an 8-6 score in the final match.
Lagac, currently a Grade 9 student at Ateneo de Manila University, expressed his commitment to continuous improvement and learning from each game. Hailing from Las Pi±as City, he has maintained an impressive record of 45 consecutive singles match victories across the U16 and U18 categories since August of the previous year. Lagac attributes his success to the support and encouragement from his family, particularly his mother's advice to always perform his best and enjoy the game.
The young athlete's passion for tennis was nurtured by his father, Ricardo, a seasoned Professional Tennis Registry coach with extensive experience, including a significant tenure at the Yashima Tennis Academy in Osaka, Japan. Ricardo, who now coaches the Ateneo men's and women's teams, highlights Miguel's positive attitude both on and off the court as a key factor in his son's success. Ricardo holds aspirations for Miguel to represent the Philippines in prestigious international competitions such as the SEA Games and the Davis Cup. He also hopes that Miguel will secure a scholarship to play in the US Division 1 and eventually achieve a professional ranking within the ATP Top 100.
