De Asis, Flores nail Palawan tennis titles

MANILA, Philippines - Kiana De Asis and Luke Flores pulled off a pair of thrilling victories as they led the winners in the upset-marred Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis circuit presented by Technifibre at the Lapaz Tennis Club in Iloilo City yesterday.

The third-ranked De Asis, a mainstay of PTA-Carlota team, stunned top seeded Averille Sacapano in the semis, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, then upended No. 2 Ma. Angelica Novis, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, to snare the girls’ 12-and-under crown while Flores, from Central Phl U, wore down Fernando Arguelles Jr., 7-6(5), 6-4, to capture the boys’ 16-U plum in the week-long event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and hosted by Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III.

De Asis, one of the sport’s rising stars, also took the 14-U crown with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Tracy Llamas to emerge the lone double winner in the tournament sanctioned by Philta headed by president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez with Techifibre as the official ball.

“The tournament was indeed a big boost to local tennis here and we thank Palawan Pawnshop for staging this event and the La Salle men’s and women’s teams for sharing their expertise with the local players and other participants,” said Espinosa.

Members of the DLSU squads conducted a series of clinics after bagging the championship in the recent Unigames, also in Iloilo, according to Philta regional vice president for Panay Dr. Andres Boy Bayona.

Local bet No. 4 Mary Grace Zapanta also snatched the girls’ premier 18-U crown, outlasting top seed Toni Rose Raymundo, 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(3). Raymundo, another PTA-Carlota stalwart, earlier copped the 16-U title with a 6-2, 6-1 romp over Sacapano.

“The series of reversals only underscored the level playing field and Palawan Pawnshop is guaranteeing more of the same in the next legs of the circuit,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castrol.

Matthew Crisosto also hogged the spotlight by turning back the top seeded Flores, 6-2, 6-4, for the boys’ 18-U diadem, while Karl Baran of PTA-Carlota routed No. 1 Tim Gumban, 6-2, 6-1, for the 14-U plum.

Top seed Fernando Ceasar Po escaped the rash of upsets by topping the 12-U class with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Pete Andre Rodriguez, who earlier pocketed the 10-unisex crown with a 4-1, 1-4, 4-2 victory over Alekzander Fern Po.

Meanwhile, the next stop will be on Nov. 7-10 in Dumalag, Capiz with free accommodation and t-shirts. For details, contact Palawan Pawnshop secretariat at 0915-4046464.