Abarquez, Pague dominate

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu's pride Elizabeth Abarquez and Jose Maria Pague of Zamboanga Sibugay bagged two titles each to lead the winners' cast in the opening leg of the B-meg Junior Tennis Cup at Citigreen Tennis Resort in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City yesterday.

Abarquez escaped past fellow Cebuana Zethley Mae Alferez, 8-6, to snare the girls 18 crown. She also topped the girls 16 battle, this time without breaking a sweat as Mary Aubrey Calma did not show up in their final match.

On the other hand, invading the Queen City of the South proved rewarding and gratifying for Pague, who earned the monicker as 'Cebuano slayer' at the end of the four-day tilt.

Pague frustrated Norman Joseph Enriquez via tie-break, 8-7 (1), to nail the boys 18 title. He also won another tie-breaker against Marc Nicole Suson, 8-7 (5), to lord it over the boys 16 age group.

Another Cebuana entry in Tiffany Nocos ended her bid with a 1-2 finish in separate classes.

Nocos prevailed over CJ Thalia Suson in the girls 16, 8-2, but lost to Princess Nichole Dela Rita, 6-8 in the girls 14 finale.

Maranding's Richard Bautista and Heiz Aslan Carbonilla went away with one champion's trophy.

Bautista grabbed a hard-earned 8-7 (3) victory over Cebuano Venz Anton Alforque in the boys 14 final, while Carbonilla pulled off a convincing 4-0, 4-2 victory against CJ Thalia Suson to reign supreme in the unisex 10-under class.

In the boys 12 final, Rupert Tortal of Surigao won by default over Nicholas Allain Ocat.  (FREEMAN)