Guarde shines in GenSan tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Carlyn Bless Guarde enhanced a promising tennis career when she copped the 12-and-under girls’ crown and took runner-up honors in the tougher 14 and 16-U divisions of the Philta-Palawan Pawnshop Regional Age-Group Championships presented by Babolat at the City Courts in Gen. Santos City last Monday.

Guarde, an 11-year-old find from Isulan Sultan Kudarat, overwhelmed Kathlen Arandia, 4-0, 4-1, to claim the 12-U crown then impressed a lot despite dropping a 3-5, 0-4 setback to top seed Sharyl delos Santos in the 14-U finals and a 1-4, 2-4 loss to No. 1 Precian Rivera in the 16-U group.

Rivera also pocketed the 18-U diadem, upsetting Delos Santos, 4-1, 5-4(1) while Eric Comendador defeated April Bentillo, 4-1, 4-0, to bag the 10-unisex title in the four-day tournament, sanctioned by Philta and sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and Technosports, exclusive distributor of Babolat.

“The GenSan tennis community, including the GenSan City Tennis Club, extends its heartfelt thanks to Philta, Palawan Pawnshop and Babolat for helping stage this tournament here,” said Dominador Lagare Jr., president of GSC Tennis Club.

Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro and Technosports president Guillermo Nocom, meanwhile, reiterated their continued support to the circuit, held to promote the sport and discover fresh talents from the countryside.

Lordrens Pacheco also scored a double in the boys’ side, humbling top seed Dale Gorospe twice, 4-5(3), 4-2, 10-7, in the 18-U and 1-4, 4-0, 11-9, in the 16-U finals of the tournament which served as the third of five legs slated in Mindanao.

Jeric delos Santos annexed the boys’ 14-U crown with a 4-1, 4-0 romp over Marco Barrios while Barrios stopped Ramon Bentillo, 4-2, 4-1, to win the 12-U plum.