Canlas, Tam-od rule Smart/Head tennis

Baguio City, Philippines – Calvin Canlas and Mica Tam-od ruled the 10th leg of Smart presents HEAD Junior Tennis Satellite Circuit 2011 age-group national tour over the weekend by upsetting their respective highly favored rivals at the Baguio City Tennis Club.

Canlas, 16, fought valiantly all-throughout the sets to survive Rogelio Estanio Jr., 2-6, 6-4, 10-6, in the finals of boys’ 18-and-under event to bag his first title in the 13th year national junior tennis circuit supported by Chris Sports, Meralco, Maynilad, Head, the official ball, and Toalson.

Tam-od, who is seeded second, upset girls’ 18-and-under division top seed Aira Mae Putiz, 6-1, 7-6, after exchanging crisp backhand volleys in the second set that impressed the all-out crowd here in the country’s summer capital and land of fresh strawberries.

Estanio Jr. of Maguindanao bounced back in the boys’ 16-and-under division finals by beating Jeleardo Amazona, 6-4, 6-4, while Erika Manduriao whipped Miriam Tumapang in the girls’ 16-and-under championship round, 6-4, 7-6, to capture both crowns.

Manduriao also bagged the girls’ 14-and-under title after subduing Ma. Dominique Ong, 6-1, 6-0, and Allian Abdulqahar upset luckless Jeleardo Amazona, 6-3, 7-6, to get his first title in the circuit – boys’ 14-and-under crown.

Club president Marlow Licudine and Philippine Tennis Association regional vice president Demetrio Andrada awarded the prizes to the winners together with the two best players Calvin Canlas for the boys and Erika Manduriao for the girls that received brand-new cellphones and pre-paid loads.

Other winners of each category also received tennis merchandise and specially designed trophies in the event co-sponsored by Smart Communications chairman Manny Pangilinan and Smart Sports program head Patrick Gregorio.

The 11th leg will officially start this week in Olongapo City Tennis Club. The most modernized city inside the heart of Zambales is expected to draw hundred of best junior participants whose aim is to earn ranking points from the Philippine Tennis Association.