Cruz, Gonzales cop Palawan net crowns

MANILA, Philippines - Monica Therese Cruz enhanced her promising tennis career by racking up two titles while Valle Verde’s Cenon Gonzales Jr. copped the boys’ 16-and-under crown in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis circuit presented by Technifibre at the Brookside Hills Tennis Club in Cainta, Rizal recently.

Cruz, a 13-year-old rising star from Naga City, shocked top seed Chloe Mae Saraza twice, scoring a 6-3, 6-1, to pocket the girls’ 16-and-U title and pulling off a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win in the 14-and-U finals of the week-long event hosted by Cainta Mayor Kit Nieto and sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop.

The 14-year-old Gonzales, on the other hand, bested Chris Prulla, 6-4, 6-2, to lead the winners in the boys’ side of the event which drew over 200 junior players and supported by the Cainta’s LGUs and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by Philta president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Top seed Marcen Gonzales took the 18-and-U diadem with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Andrew Joshua Cano; second seed Manuel Balce III upended No. 1 Marcus del Rosario, 2-6, 7-5, 6-2, for the 14-and-U crown; Aljon Talatayod surprised top seed Nio Tria, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, for the 12-and-U title; while Macie Carlos copped the 10-unisex title with a 6-2, 6-3 romp over Kryshana Brazal.

Top seed Chrislyn Coleen Sioson played true to form and trounced Nicole Amistad, 6-4, 6-2, to nail the premier girls’ 18-and-U crown, so did No. 1 Miles Vitaliano, who blasted Denise Bernardo, 6-3, 6-1, to secure the 12-and-U crown.

“The reversals and a slew of three-set finals matches further underscored the level playing field with Cruz’s twin victories expected to inspire the young players to strive more,” said Olivarez, who also took notice of Palawan Pawnshop’s continuing commitment to help develop the sport and provide a venue for the country’s leading and rising junior players.

“Palawan Pawnshop will continue providing our youth top-notch tournaments like this,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro. “This tournament will surely inspire our young players to achieve a higher level of play.”