Uy, Deja dominate Palawan tennis tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Local ace Dawn Albert Uy overwhelmed Kaye Alota, 6-1, 6-1, to capture the girls’ 16-and-under crown while Cebu bet Wyndell Feb Deja swept the boys’ 16- and 18-under titles in the Palawan Pawnshop regional age-group 2013 presented by Babolat at the Senior Sto. Nino Tennis Club in Ubay, Bohol last Monday.

Uy, 15-year-old find from Ubay who survived a big scare from Joane Zamora, 5-3, 3-4, 10-5, in the semis before dominating Alota from Inabanga, was actually going for a double victory but sustained injury after a slip in the second set of the 18-U finals, forcing her to yield the premier crown to Alota, 4-6, 5-6 (ret.).

The 14-year-old Deja, on the other hand, clipped Reggie Amba, 6-4, 6-2, to pocket the boys’ 16-U crown then held off Miguel Logronio in a tough first set before completing a 7-6(8), 6-0 romp to bag the 18-U diadem in the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and Babolat and hosted by Mayor Galicano Atup.

“In behalf of the Ubay, Bohol municipality, we thank Palawan Pawnshop for staging this event here. This is a good tournament for our young tennis players and enthusiasts and we look forward to hosting this tournament again in the future,” said Mayor Atup.

No. 3 Russell Cero turned back the second ranked Deja in the semis, 3-5, 5-3, 10-8, then upended top seed Jed Justin Labasano, 6-3, 6-2, to pocket the 14-U crown while Rica Trexie Gudelasao downed Armida Gumapac, 6-3, 6-1, to cop the girls’ 14-U title.

Gudelasao also made a twinkill as she also ruled the 12-U division, beating Zenia Javellana, 6-1, 6-4; Labasano took the boys’ 12-U title with a 6-1, 6-0 rout of John Ken Zamora, while Myk Chryshyll Ungay captured the 10-unisex crown with a 6-1, 6-1 romp over John Dominic Abueva.

“The series of nationwide age-group tournaments is part of Palawan Pawnshop’s commitment to help develop the sport from the grassroots level and provide the young players a venue where they could hone their talent and skills,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.