Agustines, Llamas cop Palawan net honors

MANILA, Philippines - Young Nash Agustines and Tracy Llamas came away with two victories each in varying fashions as they dominated their respective sides in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group Mactan leg at the Mactan island Tennis Club, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu yesterday.

Agustines, one of the young aces from Oroquieta, Ozamis City, smothered Claire Nocos, 4-1, 4-0, to pocket the 10-unisex crown then humbled Sebastien Lhuillier, 6-2, 6-1, in the semis before thwarting Harland Hoga, 6-0, 7-6(3), to snare the boys’ 12-and-under crown in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by the country’s leading pawnshop, remittance and claim center.

Llamas, on the other hand, hacked out a pair of three-setters to fuel her twin-title romp in the girls’ section, holding off Precious Coderos, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, in the premier 18-U finals and upending top seed Jennifer Pagente in a thriller, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, to steal the 14-U diadem in the five-day event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

“Given the exposure and proper training, Nash and Tracy, plus a number of promising young players, could make it to our future national pool,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro. “Putting up this series of ranking tournament is in line with our all-out support to Philippine tennis.”

Cagayan de Oro’s Aubrey Calma, however, foiled the La Carlota’s top lady netter’s three-title bid as she carved out a 6-3, 6-2 win to claim the 16-U diadem.

Jan Godfrey Seno of Bogo, Cebu later matched Agustines and Llamas’ feats as he survived Norman Enriquez, 7-6 (4), 6-4, to nail the boys’ 18-U title before ripping Francis Hidalgo, 6-1, 6-0, in the 16-U finals.