Guarde, Estrope shine in S Kudarat netfest

MANILA, Philippines - Local bets Caryn Bless Guarde and John Emmanuel Estrope came away with a pair of straight-set victories each to dominate their respective divisions in the Palawan Pawnshop Regional age-group tennis circuit in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat last Sunday.

Guarde overpowered Jazelle Madis, 4-2, 4-1, to cop the girls’ 12-and-under plum then scored an equally impressive 4-1, 4-1 rout of Kathlenrey Arandia for the 14-and-U title while Estrope upended top seed Miko Ringia, 5-3, 4-2, to snatch the boys’ 18-and-U diadem at the Isulan Capitol Tennis Club.

Estrope, one of the rising stars from Sultan Kudarat, also toppled Janus Ringia of Koronadal, 4-2, 4-1, in the 16-and-U finals to match Guarde’s double victory in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop through COO Bobby Castro and Technosports/Babolat’s president Guillermo Nocom.

Cotabato City’s Alliah Ragunton also posted twin wins in the event which kicked off a series of tournaments in Mindanao, beating Kate del Socorro, 4-0, 5-3, for the girls’ 18-and-U crown and foiling Guarde’s three-title bid with a 5-3, 5-0 romp in the 16-and-U finals.

“We are very thankful to Palawan Pawnshop and Babolat for bringing the circuit to Mindanao. This project is a big help to us, especially to our tennis playing youths,” said tournament host Sultan Pax Mangudadatu. 

Nicole Gorospe of Polomolok subdued Ramon Bentillo, 5-4(7), 4-1, to bag the boys’ 12-and-U title, Janus Ringia took the 14-and-U plum with a 5-3, 4-1 victory over Jeferson Alqueza, while Minette Bentillo, another Sultan Kudarat bet, pulled off a thrilling 2-4, 5-4(8), 10-7 win over Angelica Novis to capture the 10-unisex diadem.

“It has been Palawan Pawnshop and Babolat’s commitment to develop our young players by providing a series of top-notch tournaments,” said Castro.

“This nationwide circuit also serves as the regional tournament program for children put up to address the need for a grassroots tennis centered on values formation,” said Nocom.