Seno, Alferez score Palawan netfest ‘doubles’

MANILA, Philippines - Jan Godfrey Seno and Zethley Mae Alferez closed out the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis circuit in style, scoring a pair of straight-set victories each to dominate the final leg at the Naga City Tennis Club in Naga City, Cebu yesterday.

Seno, one of the rising stars from Bogo, Cebu, overpowered Earl Cagampang twice, fashioning out a 6-0, 6-3 win in the finals of the full-packed boys’ 16-and-under division and an emphatic 6-0, 6-0 romp in the premier 18-U category of the Group 2 tournament capping Palawan Pawnshop’s 40-stage circuit sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Alferez, playing out of Naga City, also bagged the top two crowns in girls’ play, upending top seed Shyne Villareal twice – 6-3, 6-3, in the 16-U finals and 7-5, 6-2 in the 18-U championship of the five-day event presented by Technifibre.

Reversals also marked the finals of the lower divisions in both sides, underscoring the level playing field that has been the norm in the year-long, nationwide circuit, the country’s premier age-group tournament held in conjunction with the host city’s Dagitap Festival.

“We were actually not surprised with the rash of upsets since it has been the norm all throughout the year with the lower ranked players stepping up to surprise the fancied ones. This is what the circuit is all about – to produce talents and hone them to become members of future national pool,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Elsie Abarque of Cebu City also stunned top seed Kristin Salimbangon, 6-3, 6-0, to snare the girls’ 14-U title while Lyra Mae Repollo, also of Naga City, collared the 12-U plum with a 6-4, 6-1 victory.

“We thank Palawan Pawnshop for tapping us as host of its final tournament in a busy season and we hope to become a regular stop of this circuit in the years to come,” said Naga City, Cebu Mayor Valdemar Chiong.

Unranked Francis Hidalgo of Cebu City also capped his remarkable campaign with a 6-3, 6-3 upset over top seed Francis Lambayan to pocket the boys’ 14-U crown; No. 2 Venz Alforque of Naga City likewise stunned No. 1 Cesar Salimbangon, 6-2, 6-1, to clinch the 12-U title; while No. 8 Eric Louise Longakit pulled off a shock 1-4, 4-1, 4-2 victory over No. 2 Tiffany Nocos to snatch the 10-unisex plum.