There were more new faces than familiar ones among the winners at the conclusion of the Cantilan leg of the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis in Surigao del Sur, that attracted 143 entries from Mindanao and the Visayas regions.
Tiffany Claire Nocos from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu and Bliss Bayking, a native of San Carlos City in Negros Occidental continued their winning ways in their respective age groups.
Nocos snared both the girls’ 14-under and 16-under titles, while Bayking extended her dominance in the girls’ 18-below of the tournament backed by Dunlop as the official ball.
Nocos made short work of Surigao del Sur bet Maxie Gemma Guarte, winning 6-0, 6-1, in the finals of the 14-under and followed it up with a three-set victory over Bayking, 6-2, 2-6, 10-6, in the 16-under, while Bayking made up for her loss with a 6-1, 5-7, 10-6 win over Elaine Rose Bahonsua from Siquijor in the 18-under finals.
Bayking also won the girls’ 18-under doubles’ crown in tandem with Shedel Aighey Gica, beating Bahonsua and Angelly Esguerra, 8-6, in the finals.
The only other familiar name was Surigao City bet Rupert Ohrelle Tortal, who defeated Zamboanga del Sur’s Lex Estillore, 6-3, 6-4, for the boys’ 16-under crown. Tortal also partnered with Ashton Benne Villanueva to share the boys’ 14-under doubles title.
“Seeing new faces emerge winners in any leg simply proves our contention that given the opportunities, provincial players will be discovered and some previous unknown players are in fact already playing in international tournaments under the Unified Tennis Philippines, “ said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President/CEO of the sponsoring Cebuana Lhuillier Group.
Local bet Claire Guysie Guardo posted a double as she ruled the girls’ 12- under with a 6-1, 6-4 win over another local player Shara Faith Correjos and shared the girls’ 14-under doubles’ title with partner Denice Fiona Arreza in the competition co-sponsored by the LGU of Cantilan, headed by Mayor Philip Pichay, who awarded the trophies to the winners.
Other winners were Emmanuel Pedrosa from Agusan del Sur, who topped the boys’ 18-under, beating Tortal, 6-1, 2-6, 10-8; John Christopher Sonsona from Tubod, Lanao del Norte, who emerged champion in the boys’ 14-under with a 3-6, 6-2, 10-4 win over Villanueva; local bet Alysson Cabanilla who took the boys’ 12-under championship with a straight set 6-2, 6-2 victory over Pete Andre Aguilar from Agusan del Sur; and 10-under unisex champion Justin Kennedy Detalla from Carrascal, Surigao del Sur, who beat local player Steven Cabanilla, 4-1, 4-2, in the finals.