Romualdez, De Asis rule Palawan tennis tilt
MANILA, Philippines—National Capital Region bet Jerome Romualdez finally nailed a title while local rising star Kianna de Asis bagged three crowns in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis at Lacta Tennis Club in La Carlota, Bacolod City, yesterday.
The top-seeded Romualdez, who fell short of his title bid in the first two legs in Ormoc and Iloilo, overpowered No. 2 Karl Baran of PTA Carlota, 6-1, 6-3, to rule the boys’ 16-and-under class, where he advanced to the finals without dropping a game.
De Asis, meanwhile, survived Tracy Llamas, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, to pocket the girls’ 14-U crown. She then held off Erica Sevilla, 6-2, 7-5, in the 16-U finals to emerge the lone triple gold medal winner in the five-day Group 2 tournament presented by Technifibre.
De Asis later teamed up with Llamas to beat Reighn Aronales and Divanice Hibionada, 8-1, for the 14-U doubles plum.
Top seed Tony Rose Raymundo, also of PTA Carlota, turned back Jean Sunio, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, to keep the girls’ 18-U diadem. Fourth ranked Rizza Cubos stunned No. 1 Bem Wayco, 6-2, 6-1, in the semifinals, then pulled off a thrilling 7-5, 6-4 win over La Carlota’s Alexa Milliam to snatch the girls 12-U plum in the fourth leg of the 38-stage circuit sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.
Milliam earlier copped the 10-unisex crown with a 5-4(2), 4-1 win over Kerwin de Asis while second seed Reyniel Marcellana upended top seed Baran in a fiercely fought finale, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, to pocket the boys’ 18-U title.
