Rivera, Sing shine in Palawan M’lang netfest

MANILA, Philippines - Shaira Hope Rivera continued to dish out top form and posted another twinkill while No. 2 Kenny Andre Sing upended top seed April Minet Bentillo, 6-0, 6-3, in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis circuit at the M’lang Tennis Club in Cotabato recently.

Rivera, who has dominated the Mindanao legs of the year-long nationwide circuit put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala, crushed third seed Carlyn Bless Guarde, 6-1, 6-1, to pocket the girls’ 16-and-under diadem. The 14-year-old ace from Monkayo Compostela Valley, who also won two titles in the Gen. Santos leg recently, then scored a 1-0 (ret.) win over Nicole Bautista to rule the premier 18-and-U section.

Sing, a nine-year-old find from Davao, shut out Bentillo in the first set then dropped just three games to complete a straight-set victory in the 10-unisex category of the event hosted by M’lang and backed by Technifibre as official ball.

“We thank Palawan Pawnshop for bringing this tournament here in M’lang. It was really a big boost not only to our junior tennis program but to the entire Mindanao as well,” said M’lang Mayor Joselito Piñol.

“Palawan Pawnshop has been in the forefront of tennis development for years and we will continue providing our youth top-notch tournaments like this, especially in the countryside where tennis talents abound,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Guarde bounced back from her failed bid in the 16-and-U class by thwarting Jazzelle Madis, 7-5, 6-2, to snare the 14-and-U title while Bentillo also rebounded to capture the 12-and-U crown via a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Ma. Angelica Novis.

John Abson Alejandre also stamped his class to bag the boys’ 18-and-U title with a 6-1, 6-2 romp over top seed Jefferson Alqueza, while unranked Jarel Edangga shocked third seed John Merwin Estrellado, 6-2, 6-2, to snatch the 16-and-U crown in the event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by Philta president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Top seed Vince EJ Tugade took the boys’ 14-and-U plum with a 1-0 (ret.) win over Jyle Cyrin Martinez, while No. 8 Brent Magno surprised third ranked Eric Comendador, 6-1, 6-2, to claim the 12-and-U crown.

Meanwhile, action in the Mindanao circuit resumes on Friday at the Kidapawan Tennis Club in Kidapawan City. For details, contact, Jessicah Haro at 0929-2377893 or Philta referee and tournament director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.