MANILA, Philippines - Reynan Mahusay enhanced a promising tennis career as he racked up three victories in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis tournament, including in the premier boys’ 18-and-under division at the Dumalag Tennis Club in Dumalag, Capiz yesterday.
The 14-year-old bet from St. Michael School in Pontevedra showed grace under pressure in the finals, pulling off a pair of thrilling tiebreakers against third seed Mart Fullo for a 7-6(5), 7-6(3) decision in the Group 3 tournament sponsored by the country’s leading pawnshop, remittance and claim center and sanctioned by Philta headed by Paranaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.
Fullo stunned top seed Mark Crisosto, 6-7(7), 7-5, 10-5, in the Final Four.
As third seed in the 16-U class, Mahusay swept his way past three rivals to face giant-killer Jondreve Jimenea in the finals with the former battling back from a set down to hack out a 1-6, 6-1, 10-7 victory. He earlier dominated Jimenea, 6-3, 6-0, to bag the 14-U plum.
“Reynan has developed into one mean player by competing regularly in the Palawan Pawnshop circuit and his hard work has started to pay off,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castrol. “We hope to produce more young talents and inspire more players through our series of tournaments nationwide.”
Kiana de Asis failed to match that three-win romp as the top La Carlota bet, who dominated the last three legs of the circuit presented by Technifibre, in Pontevedra, Panaad and San Carlos City, settled for victories in the 14- and 16-U sections via 6-4, 7-5, and 6-1, 6-2, respectively, both over Tracy Llamas.
But Llamas struck back in the centerpiece 18-U category, carving out a tough 7-5, 6-4, decision over De Asis, while top seed Avril Suace from Central Philippine U in Iloilo took the girls’ 12-U plum with a 7-6(3), 6-0 triumph over Marie Faeldonea, and Roxas City’s Angelo Mejia bagged the boys’ 12-U plum with a 0-6, 6-1, 14-12 victory over Marven Mosquera.
Top seed Khenz Justiniani, also from La Carlota, romped off with the 10-unisex diadem with a 4-1, 4-0 rout of Jeff Jimenea.
Meanwhile, action in the country’s longest nationwide junior circuit resumes Friday (Nov. 13) at the DPWH Tennis Club in Legazpi City. For details, call Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP organizer and sports program development director at 0915-4046464.