McKenzie upends top seed twice, clinches 3 PPS crowns in Argao

Ashley McKenzie stunned top seed Lyrah Repollo twice to claim the girls’ 14- and 16-and-under crowns in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Argao leg regional age-group tennis tournament at the Argao courts in Cebu recently.

The fourth-ranked McKenzie, born to a Cebuana and an Australian, leaned on her baseline game to stun Repollo, 6-4, 6-2, in the 14-U finals then as No. 3, bested second seed Bless Coderos, 6-3, 6-3, in the semifinals. She repeated over Repollo, 7-6(2), 3-2(ret.), to pocket the 16-U diadem in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Ashley later teamed up with sister Kimberly to nip Dec Montanez and Grace Lanete, 8-6, for the 14-U doubles crown in the event presented by Slazenger and backed by Unified Tennis Philippines, including PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.

Unranked Raymund Goco ripped second seed Gerald Gemida, 6-2, 6-0, to snare the boys’ 12-U plum then partnered with Mitch Laygo to rout Hans Cabellon and Clarence Tabura, 8-2, for the 14-U doubles title and share MVP honors with McKenzie.

Coderos later held off Beverly Enriquez, 2-6, 7-5, 10-4, to bag the 18-U crown.

Kimberly McKenzie snatched the 12-U title with a 6-3, 3-6, 10-7 victory over top seed Corazon Lambonao.

Vhon Tudtud trounced Adrian Nacilla, 7-5, 6-2, for the boys’ 18-U diadem; Mike Dee held off Mark Albarracin, 6-4, 6-4, for the 16-U crown; Kenneth Tenepre thwarted Cedrix Bravo, 6-4, 2-6, 10-8, for the 14-U plum; and Gio Manito repulsed Shara Paliwag, 2-4, 4-1, 5-4(2), for the 10-unisex plum.