Guarde, Pacheco bag Palawan titles

ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD Carlyn Bless Guarde dominated the girls’ 12-under division and finished second in the 14-under and 16-under categories in an impressive debut in the Philta-Palawan Pawnshop regional age-group tennis championships presented by Babolat last Monday in General Santos City.

The Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, native routed Kathlen Arandia, 4-0, 4-1, to win the 12-under title but failed to go all the way when she took on the top seeds in the higher age-groups at General Santos City Courts.

Yet Guarde still managed to impress the crowd despite bowing to No. 1 Sharyl delos Santos in the 14-under finals, 5-3, 4-0, and yielding to top pick Precian Rivera, 4-1, 4-2, in the 16-under championships.

Lordrens Pacheco snagged two titles after beating top seed Dale Gorospe twice in the boys 18-under and 16-under finals. Pacheco won, 4-5(7-3), 4-2, 10-7, for the centerpiece 18-under crown, before winning the 16-under title with a 1-4, 4-0, 11-9 victory.

Jeric delos Santos claimed the boys 14-under title with a 4-1, 4-0 triumph over Marco Barrios. Barrios then defeated Ramon Bentillo, 4-2, 4-1, to take the boys 12-under top prize. Marc Anthony Reyes