Flores, two others dominate Palawan Pawnshop tennis

MANILA, Philippines - Luke Flores came away with two victories in varying fashions while Angelo Mejia and Shyryn Salazar dominated their respective sides in the Philta-Palawan Pawnshop regional age-group tennis tournament in Dumalag, Capiz last week.

The second-seeded Flores toppled No. 1 Emmanuel Fuellas, 6-4, 1-6, 10-4, to capture the boys’ 16-and-under crown then trounced Robert Labris, 6-1, 6-3, to pocket the 18-and-under title in the event which kicked off the nationwide, year-long circuit sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and Technosports, through its president Guillermo Nocom.

Mejia and Salazar matched Flores’ two-title romp with the former blanking Marben Mosquera, 6-0, 6-0, for the 10-unisex diadem and beating Niño Buenvenida, 6-2, 6-4, for the boys’ 12-and-under title of the four-day tournament that drew a huge turnout.

Salazar humbled top seed Averille Sacapano, 6-3, 6-3, in the girls’ 12-and-under finals then downed Keana De Asis, 6-0, 6-4, for the 14-and-under crown.

“With the big turnout, we were really inspired to hold our first tournament in Dumalag and this should augur well for the rest of the season,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Keannu Flores battled back from a set down to turn back Toni Rose Raymundo, 2-6, 6-1, 10-7, to snatch the girls’ 16-and-under plum. But Raymundo got back in the 18-and-under finals, nipping Flores, 6-4, 6-7, 11-9, to rule the premier division in the event organized and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Fuellas, on the other hand, redeemed himself in the 16-and-under finals, overpowering Karl Baran, 6-1, 6-1.

Meanwhile, the second leg of the 27-stage circuit got under way yesterday at the La Paz Tennis Club in Iloilo City with Philta regional vice president Dr. Andres Bayona as sponsor.