LOCAL bets Caryn Bless Guarde and John Emmanuel Estrope won two titles each in the Palawan Pawnshop Regional age-group tennis circuit on Sunday at the Isulan Capitol Tennis Club in Sultan Kudarat.
Guarde overpowered Jazelle Madis, 4-2, 4-1, to cop the girls’ 12-and-under plum then scored an equally impressive 4-1, 4-1 rout of Kathlenrey Arandia for the 14-and-under title.
Estrope upended top seed Miko Ringia, 5-3, 4-2, to win the boys’ 18-and-U diadem and defeated Janus Ringia of Koronadal, 4-2, 4-1, in the 16-and-Under final.
Cotabato City’s Alliah Ragunton also posted twin wins, while foiling Guarde’s bid for a triple.
Ragunton beat Kate Del Socorro, 4-0, 5-3, for the girls’ 18-and-under crown and defeated Guarde 5-3, 5-0 in the 16-and-under final.
“We are very thankful to Palawan Pawnshop and Babolat for bringing the circuit to Mindanao. This project is a big help to us, especially to our tennis playing youths,” said tournament host Sultan Pax Mangudadatu.
Nicole Gorospe of Polomolok subdued Ramon Bentillo, 5-4 (7), 4-1, to bag the boys’ 12-and-under title, Janus Ringia took the 14-and-under plum with a 5-3, 4-1 victory over Jeferson Alqueza, while Minette Bentillo of Sultan Kudarat pulled off a 2-4, 5-4(8), 10-7 win over Angelica Novis to capture the 10-under unisex diadem.
“It has been Palawan Pawnshop and Babolat’s commitment to develop our young players by providing a series of top-notch tournaments,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.
“This nationwide circuit also serves as the regional tournament program for children put up to address the need for a grassroots tennis centered on values formation,” said Technosports/Babolat president Guillermo Nocom.