Seno, 2 others dominate Palawan Pawnshop tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Jan Godfrey Seno, Angela Cabaral and Alexa Milliam enhanced their promising tennis career by nailing two victories each in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group presented by Technifibre at the Praxevilla Tennis Club in Dumaguete City yesterday.

The Bogo, Cebu-native Seno came away with a 6-1, (ret.) win over Reyniel Marcellana in the 18-and-under finals after easing out La Carlota-leg winner Jerome Romualdez, 6-1, 6-2, for the 16-U crown in the five-day Group 2 tournament put up by the country’s leading pawnshop, remittance and claim center.

Cabaral, from Bais, Negros Oriental, rolled past young Tracy Llamas, 6-2, 6-2, to clinch the 16-U plum then pounced on the injured top seed Toni Rose Raymundo in the 18-U finals to claim a 5-2 (ret.) victory in the fifth leg of the 38-leg nationwide circuit sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Not to be outdone, Milliam repeated over Llamas, 6-3, 6-2, to rule the 12-U side then overpowered Dinafe Perez, 6-1, 6-1, to score a second straight victory in the 10-unisex section after dominating the La Carlota leg last week.

“Seno, Cabaral and Milliam represent the new breed of tennis players, who, if given the proper training, support and exposure, could become the country’s future stars,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castrol, whose year-long, nationwide circuit guarantees ranking competitions for the country’s young campaigners.

Local bet Ibarra Ortega stunned second seed Dexter Obelidon, 6-2, 6-1, in the semis then held off Giullian Bandoquillo, 6-1, 6-4, to snare the boys’ 14-U diadem while top seed Pete Andrei Rodriguez from Bacolod thwarted Joshua Raymundo, 6-4, 6-4, to cop the 12-U crown.

Cabaral actually wrapped up another title as she earlier teamed up with Raymundo to win the 18-U doubles crown via an 8-5 romp over Kiana Vincoy and Ghylliana Yu.

Meanwhile, over 300 players have confirmed participation in the next leg back in Manila set to start this Thursday  at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City. For details, contact Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director, at 0915-4046464.