Flores, Zapanta cop Palawan net titles

LUKE Alquin Flores and Mary Grace Zapanta notched twin victories, including the premier boys’ and girls’ crowns, in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group 2014 in Dumalag, Capiz last Monday.

The top-seeded Flores, from Central Philippine University in Iloilo, never dropped a set on his way to beating Mart Fullo, 4-1, 4-1, for the 18-and-under crown and Albino Morales, 4-1, 4-2, for the 16-U diadem in the week-long event presented by Technifibre.

The unseeded Zapanta, on the other hand, stunned No. 2 Angeline Suarnaba, 4-2, 4-0, in the second round and went on to capture the girls’ 18-U plum with a 4-1, 4-0 rout of No. 5 Razel Mae Abejo.

The Iloilo champion then surprised top seed Tracy Llamas, 3-4(7), 5-4(1), 10-2, to snatch the 16-U crown in the tournament sanctioned by Philta headed by president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Angelo Mejia from Roxas City also pulled off a golden double, winning the 10-unisex title with a 4-2, 4-1 romp over Joshua Raymundo and the boys’ 12-U crown with 4-1, 4-0 victory over top seed Rewel Justianiani.

Calinog, Capiz bet Edmarl Casiple toppled Eldezar Alvarico, 4-0, 4-1, for the boys’ 14-U plum.

Llamas, playing out of PTA La Carlota, rebounded with a 4-2, 4-1 win over Stephanie Crisosto to annex the girls’ 14-U title.

Crisosto, from Hua Siong, Iloilo, pocketed the girls’ 12-U diadem with a 4-2, 4-1 victory over Andrea Suace.

The next leg will be held in Sultan Kudarat in line with the Kalimudan tennis festival on Nov. 14 to 17.