Trillanes, Guevarra post twin PPS-PEPP triumphs

MANILA, Philippines - Jan Harold Trillanes and Glydel Guevarra came away with a pair of twin title wins in varying fashions as the local bets stamped their class in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala age-group regional tennis circuit at the Univ. of Saint Anthony in Iriga City yesterday.

Trillanes recovered from a second set blowout and wore down upset-conscious Jolo Basa in the grueling decider, 6-3, 0-6, 16-14, to secure the boys’ 16-and-under crown. The 13-year-old rising star from San Antonio Elem. School also needed an extra set to topple No. 2 Jenard Gonzales in the 14-U finals of the five-day Group 5 event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.

Guevarra, on the other hand, imposed her will against Carla Andrada, 6-1, 6-1, to pocket the girls’ 12-U plum then the nine-year-old find from Iriga Elem. School clobbered Andrika Idioma, 6-1, 6-2, to annex the 14-U diadem in the ranking tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez and backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, the official ball.

“Given the proper exposure and support, Trillanes and Guevarra loom as the country’s next tennis stars and Palawan Pawnshop will continue to provide these young players the venue to toughen up,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Guevarra, however, bowed to Ryan Christian Taller from Tabaco City, Albay, 4-2, 2-4, 1-4, in the 10-unisex finals.

Nica Alanis and Naga City’s Nolan Gagalac ruled the premier divisions with the former holding off Patricia Corporal, 6-2, 6-4, to cop the girls’ 18-U crown and the latter blasting Osward Hernandez, 6-3, 6-0, for the boys’ 18-U title.