Lambayan,Pages led Cebu winners of Babolat tennisfest

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebuano netters led by Francis Lambayan, Jana Pages and Godfrey Seno stamped their respective classes against a strong field of opposition in the Babolat Junior Tennis Circuit over the weekend at the Cebu International Tennis Centre, Inc. (CITCI) courts in Laray, Consolacion.

Lambayan pulled off stunning victory over the top seeded Jacob Martin, 7-5, 6-1 to grab the title in the boys 12 category, while Seno came up with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Emmanuel Vacalares, Jr. in the boys 14 final.

Even before beating Vacalares, Seno already felt like a champion as he bested fellow Cebuano Christopher Encarnacion in the penultimate round. Encarnacion was the conqueror of the no. 1 seed Arthur Craig Pantino in the quarterfinal round played at the Mactan tennis courts.

In the distaff side, Jana Pages and Zethley Mae Alferez also basked in crowning glory. Pages shocked the top-ranked Carmela Llavore in convincing fashion, 6-1, 6-4 to clinch the girls 14 crown, while Alferez ruled the girls 12 category after outlasting fellow Cebuana Kristine Renee Salimbangon.

On the other hand, the visiting Maia Balce and Eric Olivarez, Jr. claimed two titles each.

Balce edged Maimai Bornia, 6-2, 5-7, 10-2 in the girls 16 and Dawn Albert Uy 6-2, 5-7, 10-2 in the girls 18 finals.

Olivarez, for his part, got the boys 16 title after beating Stefan Suarez, 6-4, 6-4. He also bagged the boys 18 plum after defeating Sebastian Mosqueda, 6-2, 5-7, 10-8.

Another visiting tennister in Mark Alfred Directo won the unisex 10-under at the expense of Diego Dayrit, 6-1,6-4.

In the doubles event, Cebuanas Shyne Villareal and Alferez topped the girls 14 class after getting rid of Pages and Villanueva.

Encarnacion and Laurel lorded it over in the boys 14-under, while Villarin and Necesario dominated the boys 16 doubles. (FREEMAN)