Coyiuto, Eala head Manila leg winners

MANILA, Philippines -  Samantha Mae Coyiuto and Michael Eala led all the champions of the last leg of Smart presents HEAD 13th Junior Tennis Satellite Circuit 2011 age-group national tour Metro Manila over the weekend at the Meralco tennis courts in Ortigas City.

Coyiuto, 16, one of the promising players in the final leg, defeated Macy Gonzales, 6-3, 6-2, in the girl’s 18-under finals to win the title of the event supported by Chris Sports, Meralco, Smart, Maynilad, Head, the official ball, Toalson, Selecta Ice Cream.

“Semifinals and the championship round came up so challenging until the very last serve,” said the second seed Coyiuto, who outclassed Lynette Palasan in the semifinals, 6-2, 6-2. “I’m so very thankful I overcame the challenge.”

Eala, winner of the 8-under singles title in the 2010 Little Mo International Tennis in Florida USA, crushed Joshua Regino in the championship round of unisex 10-under class, 6-2, 6-1, to claim the crown.

Eala played true to form in every match to beat Ryotaro Shimomura in the semifinals of the 70-day tournament on its 13th year that featured 13 national tennis legs sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta).

Coyiuto and Eala were chosen the best players of the Metro Manila leg that attracted 534 entries nationwide in the event organized by tournament director and Philta regional vice-president Juanito Cansino Jr.

In other championship results, Dheo Talatayod defeated Betto Orendain, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, to win the boys’ 18 under crown while Jeleardo Amazona outplayed Daniel Villasenor, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1, for the boys’ 14-under title.

HEAD elite players Argil Lance Canizares and Janelle Carmela Llavore whipped their respective foes to win the boys’ 16 under and girls 12 under division titles, respectively.

Canizares blanked Eric Olivarez, 7-5, 6-3, while Llovore beat Chloe Mae Saraza, 6-4, 6-0, in both finals of the event also co-sponsored by Smart Communications Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and Smart Sports head Patrick Gregorio.