MANILA, Philippines - Taking full advantage of their familiarity with the local courts, local bets from host province Sultan Kudarat dominated the recently concluded Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Championship Series leg in Isulan, ruling five of the nine age groups contested in the event hosted by the Dr. Juan Garcia Sr. Memorial Indoor Club.
Minette April Bentillo and veteran Carlyn Bless Guarde led the locals’ charge, with Bentillo taking both the girls’ 12-U and 14-U.
She defeated Davao City’s Theresa Nacito, 6-1 , 6-1 in the 12-U and beat the same foe , 6-2 , 6-1 in the 14-U.
Guarde completed the local sweep of the girls’ competition by beating Lady Lee Cagadas, 6-4 , 6-2 in the 16-U finals and disposing of Kate Consibet, 6-0 , 6-2, for the 18-U crown..
“With still two legs to go for this year, we are already looking at a bigger series in 2016, encouraged by the big turnout of entries in all the previous legs, and we see a lot of these young players emerging national champions in the near future, “ said Jean Henri Lhuillier, presiden-CEO of the sponsoring Cebuana Lhuillier.
The leg was co-sponsored by Dunlop Sport and the local LGU of Sultan Kudarat headed by Gov. Suharto Mangudadatu, who provided free billeting to visiting participants aside from hosting a fellowship lunch.
In the boys division, John Christopher Sonsona from Tubod, Lanao del Norte swept Kurt Bandolis, 4-0 , 5-3 (10-U unisex), with sibling John Renest Sonsona taking the 18-U title at the expense of Lisandro Alqueza from Kidapawan, 6-4 , 6-1.
Jose Vincent Comendador from Kidapawan ruled the 12-U, beating John Sonsona, 6-2 , 6-0. GenSan’s Klyde Lagarde topped the 14-U, winning over Andrei Cuevas of Lanao del Norte, 6-4 , 6-4, while Vince Tugade added a fifth title for the local bets by beating Jarrel Endangga, 7-5, 7-6, in the 16-U finale.
The final two legs of this year’s series are scheduled this weekend in Surallah, South Cotabato and in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City from Dec. 26 to 31.