Alferez claims Smart-Head Cebu age group crown

MANILA, Philippines - Eleven-year-old Zethley Mae Alferez uncorked the power of his forehand to capture a title in the 14th Smart-Head 2012 junior national Tennis Age-Group Satellite Circuit’s fifth leg at the Cebu International Tennis Center in Laray Consolation, Cebu recently.

Alferez, who attends Bright Academy in Cebu, toppled Elizabeth Abarquez, 6-0, 6-0, to pocket the girls’ 12-under crown in the tournament supported by Smart Communications, Chris Sports, HEAD, Meralco, Maynilad and Toalson.

She almost won a second title but came up short against fellow Cebuana Alyssa Mae Bornia, 5-7, 1-6, in the girls’ 14-under of the tournament supported by Noel Lorenzana, Smart Division head for wireless consumer.

“I’m happy to secure the 12-under title although I lost the other one,” said Alferez. “We played great but I came up short. I’ll try to get back the next time we meet.”

In other final results, Krissianne Issa Kintanar routed Dominique Ong, 6-4, 6-0, for the 16-under title while another Cebuana netter Hannha Grace Espinosa whipped Davao’s Andrea Regino, 6-0, 6-3, for the girls’ 18-under title.

In the boys division, Fritz Satera bagged the boys’ 18-under title with an impressive 6-3, 6-0 thrashing of Zamboanga’s Allian Abdulqoahar, whom Rodolfo Barquin also defeated, 6-2, 7-5, for the boys’ 16-under crown.

Bacolod’s Fernando Arguelles Jr. beat Clyde Dujali for the boys’ 14-under title, 6-3, 3-6, 10-5, while Joshua Regino copped the boys 12-under title over Francis Lambayan, 6-7, 7-4, 12-10.

Nonito Pepito dominated Rupert Tortal, 6-3, 6-2, to earn the 10-under unisex title of the event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Cebu Chris sports manager Marjo Nunuez awarded the prizes to the winners with Alferez receiving the leg’s best player trophy.

Juanito Cansino is the tournament director of the whole satellite event.

The next leg will be in Dumaguete City this week.