Romualdez eyes another Palawan netfest crown

MANILA, Philippines—Jerome Romualdez and Toni Rose Raymundo try to make it two-in-row while Kianna de Asis seeks to complete another two-title romp as the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis holds its fifth leg starting Thursday in Dumaguete City.

The Manila-based Romualdez and PTA Carlota’s Raymundo pulled off contrasting wins to rule their respective sections in La Carlota, Bacolod, last week with the former dominating Karl Baran, 6-1, 6-3, to nail his first 16-and-Under crown in the Group 2 tournament sponsored presented by Technifibre.

Raymundo, on the other hand, repulsed Jean Sunio, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, in the premier girls’ 18-U division.

But Romualdez and Raymundo will have their hands full this week with Baran out to strike back along with the likes of Eldyzar Alvarico, Jan Godfrey Seno, Reyniel Marcellana, Joshua Sarabia and Troy Llamas.

“We expect a fiercely-fought contest in all classes with the rest of the competitors raring to prove their worth and gain ranking points,” said Bobby Castro, COO of Palawan Pawnshop.

De Asis, who took the 14- and 16-U titles in La Carlota, likewise hopes to score a repeat but faces a tougher challenge this time against top seed Angela Cabaral and No. 2 Tracy Llamas (16-U) and No. 1 Ellaine Bohunsua and Llamas (14-U).