Milliam leads PPS winners in Bacolod

MANILA, Philippines — Alexa Milliam pounded out a 4-2, 5-4 (4) reversal over second seed Jufe-Ann Cocoy while Therese Gauran, Louraine Jallorina and Renante Bravo also came away with straight-set victories to sustain their title runs in the PPS-PEPP national age-group tennis tournament in Bacolod City last Friday.

Milliam showed the form that netted her the 18-and-under crown in last week’s PPS-PEPP Iloilo leg, overpowering three rivals before the unranked local bet subdued Cocoy in the finals of the premier age category at the Negros Occidental Tennis Association courts.

Gauran, from Tayasan, Negros, lived up to her top billing, dropping just two games in four matches to rule the girls’ 16-and-under play for the second straight week. She trounced No. 2 Louchelaj Estember, 4-0, 4-2, in the finals of the Group 1 tournament which drew players from Aklan, Roxas, Iloilo, Tayasan, Dumaguete, Valencia, San Carlos, La Carlota, Cadiz, Sagay and Bacolod.

The unseeded Jallorina also bucked the odds, upending third seed Zeannie Brigoli, 4-0, 4-0, Fiel Caroliean, 4-1, 4-0, and Bea Celeste, 4-1, 4-1, before overpowering Raine Villame, 4-1, 4-0, to claim the 12-under crown.

Hannah Divinagracia joined the romp of the lesser lights, thumping three rivals before foiling Jasmine Jaran, 4-2, 4-1, to pocket the 16-under plum in the event put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala president and CEO Bobby Castro and sponsored by Fernando Arguelles III.

Meanwhile, the PPS-PEPP La Carlota leg scheduled this week has been moved to May 11 to 15 due to adverse weather conditions. For details, contact event organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.