Guarde, Romualdez top Philta-Palawan netfest

MANILA, Philippines - Carlyn Bless Guarde swept two titles while Jerome Romualdez dominated the premier boys’ 18-and-under class to lead the winners in the Philta-Palawan Pawnshop Regional age-group tennis tournament at the Grandslam Tennis Courts in Bacolod City yesterday.

The top-seeded Guarde from Mindanao played true to form and beat Averille Sacapano from Big-A Malay Aklan twice, 6-2, 6-4, and 6-3, 6-2, to pocket the girls’ 12- and 14-and-under crowns, respectively, while No. 1 Romualdez of NCR trounced second seed Fernando Arguelles, 6-1, 6-2.

Guarde and Romualdez went on to bag the MVP honors in both divisions in the five-day Group 2 tournament which served as the championship leg of the Philta-Palawan Pawnshop circuit’s Western Visayas swing.

“We were overwhelmed by the huge turnout and we promised to hold more tournaments here so the players from Negros and Panay Island and nearby provinces won’t need not go to Manila to compete in ranking too,” said Philta president Rep. Edwin Olivarez under whose honor the event is held.

Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro and Guillermo Nocom, president of Technosports, exclusive distributor of Babolat equipment, also vowed to continue supporting Philta’s nationwide youth development program.

Guarde and Sacapano later teamed up to rout Danielle Rumbines and Ericka Sevilla, 6-0, 6-0, to bag the 14-and-U doubles title.

Mary Grace Zapanta also shared the spotlight, winning the 16- and 18-and-under crowns in the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and Technosports and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Zapanta defeated Rushlyn Clelo, 6-3, 6-0, in the 18-and-U and foiled Guarde’s three-title bid in the 16-and-U finals, 6-3, 6-4.

Stefan Suarez took the boys’ 16-and-U plum with a 6-1, 6-0 romp over Romualdez; Jon Godfrey Seno copped the 14-and-U crown with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Emmanuel Fuellas’ and top seed Reynan Mahusay repulsed Fernando Po, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0, to claim the 12-and-under diadem.

Alekzander Po, meanwhile, stunned top seed Marben Mosquerra, 6-4, 6-0, in the semis then turned back No. 2 Enzo Alejandro, 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, to snatch the 10-unisex crown.