Jarata, Jucutan score Baguio ‘doubles’ in PPS

MANILA, Philippines — Marielle Jarata racked up two titles while Exequiel Jucutan upended his fancied rivals in the boys’ side of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Baguio leg tennis tournament at the Baguio Tennis Club in Burnham Park last Monday.

Jarata, from Agoo, La Union, overpowered Prince Lim, 4-0, 4-1, to dominate the 10-unisex division then moved one rung higher and crushed Dynna Visaya, 6-0, 6-0, for the 12-U crown of the Group 2 tournament that drew close to 200 players from Pangasinan, Laoag, Vigan, La Union, Tarlac and Laguna.

Jucutan, on the other hand, stunned top seed Andre Jarata, 6-3, 6-3, to snare the boys’ 14-U title then the rising Pangasinan star turned back second seed Dale Cuevas, 6-1, 5-7, 10-8, in the 16-U finals of the four-day championship sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.

“These two players’ feats impress us the most and we hope to produce more of their kind through our year-long, nationwide talent-search, which has now reached north,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.