Rivera guns for repeat in Palawan netfest

SHAIRA Hope Riviera tries to bring her winning act to Koronadal as she leads a crack roster of age-groupers vying for top honors in Series 62 Palawan Pawnshop regional circuit which got under way yesterday at Koronadal Sports Complex in Koronadal City.

Rivera, 14, swept the girls’ 16- and 18-and-Under crowns in last week’s Palawan Pawnshop Tuna Festival in Gen. Santos City.  She is favored to score a repeat as top seed in both sections of the four-day event.

She will be up against Manuelle Firman, Veronica Mesa, Riza Lagdamen, Marie Trinidad, Yzi Domingo, Harlyn Getalla and Jessa Rodriguez, among others, in the premier 18-U class.

Jazzelle Madis, Diadem Sasota and Kathlenrey Arandia will challenge Rivera in the 16-U division.

Sasota and Madis are the top two bets in the 14-U category along with Firman, April Bentillo, Harly Getalla, Angel Joy Corpuz, Ma. Angelica Novis and Arandia.

Bentillo and Novis will lead the 12-U cast, with the former also the leading player in the 10-unisex along with Andre Sing, Cedric Pamplona, Tennielle Madis, Herald Aton and Harry Bacaron.

Abson Alejandre and Andrei Pamplona loom as the top bets in the boys’ 18-U.

Alejandro is likewise also the top seed in the 16-U class with Jyle Martinez and Junmarer Cagampang as the toughest challengers while Vince Tugade and Martinez gained the top seedings in the 14-U class.

Kidapawan will host the next stop on Sept. 19 to 22 before M’lang takes its turn on Sept. 26 to 29.