Seno, Santos dominate Philta-Cebu age group

JAN Godfrey Seno and Alexie Santos humbled their older rivals to claim three titles each, including the centerpiece 18-under event, in the Philta-Palawan Pawnshop regional age-group championships presented by Babolat at Cebu International Tennis Center over the weekend.

The 13-year-old Seno, one of Cebu City’s most promising talents, downed Daniel Jessie Villarin, 4-1, 4-1 (retired) for the 18-under crown to cap his big stint in the last of the two Cebu legs.

He also dumped Villarin, 4-0, 4-0, in the 16-under finals and Francis Gener Lambayan, 4-0, 4-0, in the 14-under championship.

The 12-year-old Santos pulled the rug from under Cebu’s top junior, 13-year-old Jana Pages, 5-3, 4-2, in the girls’ 18-under final.

The Puerto Princesa, Palawan native, who won the MVP award after winning two singles division titles in the recent Olivarez Cup, displayed speed and cunning beyond her years in besting Pages, who won the initial Cebu leg.

She also topped the 16-under with a 4-0, 4-0 victory over Khyshana Hitosis and the 14-under top honor with a 4-0, 4-1 triumph over Pages in the tourmament sanctioned by Philta as part of its nationwide talent search.

“We expect to see more of [Seno and Santos] as they mature and eventually become national players,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Other finals results: Zethley Alferes d. Dana Abad, 4-2, 5-3 (girls’ 12-under title); Lambayan d. Karl Baran, 4-1, 4-0 (boys’ 12-U plum); Sebastian Santos d. Nonito Pepito, 4-2, 4-5, 10-8 (10-unisex). Marc Anthony Reyes