Palawan-Maasin netfest under way

MANILA, Philippines - The Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis tournament winds up its Visayas swing beginning today with tight finishes seen in various divisions at the Maasin Tennis Club in Maasin, Leyte.

Venz Alforque and Noah Alejandre head the cast in the boys’ 18-and-under class while Dianne Mendiola, Lea Gingco, Jhoanna Villacin banner the field in the distaff side of the premier division of the four-day ranking tournament presented by Technifibre.

Mendiola, Gingco and Villacin, along with Lyka Flores will also be slugging it out in the 16-U class while Kurt Padilla, Jeff Paler, Neil Vidallon and Tyrone Ybanez are expected to dispute the boys’ 16-U crown in the event serving as the 22nd leg of the nationwide, year-long circuit put up by Palawan Pawnshop as part of its continuing effort to help in the Philippine Tennis Association’s talent-search program under president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

“We expect another spirited title chase in all categories that has been the theme in all the other legs with new faces emerging,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Joanna Rojas and Sheena, meanwhile, lead the field in the girls’ 14-U section with Michael Ibcas, Karl Lucero, Jumary Dacuyan and Lawrence Gorres along with Ybañez and Vidallon tipped to dispute the crown in the boys’ side.

Rojas and Mejares also banner the 12-U cast while Micko dela Cruz, Murriel Mangcao Jr. and Drenzen Bernales headline the full-packed boys’ field.