Palawan Pawnshop netfest caps 40-leg circuit in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines - The Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tournament presented by Technifibre winds up its year-long, nationwide circuit in Naga City, Cebu today with around 200 entries clashing for top honors in nine divisions at the Naga City Tennis Club.

John Godfrey Seno and Earl Cagampang head the banner field in the boys’ 18-and-under class while Shyne Villareal and Kristin Salimbangon are tipped to dispute the centerpiece girls’ 18-U title in the five-day Group 2 tournament capping Palawan Pawnshop’s 40-stage circuit sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Villareal and Salimbangon are also seeing action in the 16-U class along with Zetley Alferez and Elsie Abarquez with Salimbangon hoping to dominate the 14-U section where she is the top seed in the country’s premier age-group tournament.

“It has been a very busy year for junior tennis with the circuit not only boosting the sport but also producing and identifying a number of talents who could become the country’s next tennis superstars,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Francis Lambayan, Francis Navales, Marc Suson and Earl Cagampang, meanwhile, lead the boys’ 16-U cast with Lambayan and Suson also seeing action in the 14-U side of the tournament hosted by Naga City for the first time.

“We’re honored to host Palawan Pawnshop’s final tournament this year and this is a great opportunity for the Cebuano players to step up and showcase their talent and skills,” said host Mayor Valdemar Chiong.

Kristofer Salimbangon and Venz Alforque headline the field in the boys’ side while Tiffany Nocos and Lyrah Repollo loom as the top contenders in the girls’ category of the 12-U category.

Salimbangon and Nocos are also expected to contend for the 10-unisex crown along with Harland Hogan and Thalia Suson in the ranking tournament.

Details: Palawan Pawnshop secretariat at 0915-4046464.