De Asis, Baran head Pintaflores netfest

MANILA, Philippines - Kiana de Asis and Karl Baran seek another title romp as they banner the field in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Pintaflores Festival age-group tennis tournament unfolding today at the San Carlos City Tennis Center in Negros Occidental.

De Asis, one of the top junior players from La Carlota, has dominated the last two Visayas legs of the country’s premier junior circuit put up by Palawan Pawnshop, scoring a pair of two-title romps in Pontevedra and Panaad and making her the player to beat in the four-day Group 5 tournament.

But she faces a tougher challenge this weekend with top seed Tracy Llamas out to live up to her billing in the girls’ 14-, 16- and 18-and-under categories of the event presented by Technifibre and held in conjunction with Pintaflores Festival celebrations.

“While focus will be on De Asis and Baran, we expect the other players to step up and spring some surprises that had been the fare in this long-running, nationwide tennis program for the youth,” said Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro.

The event also serves as a prelude to next week’s Open Championship, which features the country’s leading players, also at the San Carlos Tennis Center.

For details, call up Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP organizer and sports program development director at 0915-4046464.

Others tipped to crowd De Asis and Llamas for the crown are Angela Cabaral, Valerie Desoyo, Bliss Bayking and Dorelle Laguda in 18-U; Amor Decendario, Ellaine Bahonsua and Kim Galanza in 16-U; and Beam Wayco and Shyryn Salazar in 14-U.

Baran, also from Carlota, is eyeing a sweep of the boys’ top two titles against an equally talented field that includes Eldyzar Alvarico, Matthew Flores, Troy Llamas, Rewel Justiniani and Reynan Mahusay, both in 16- and 18-U categories.

Justiniani and Troy Llamas, meanwhile, head the cast in the 14-U division while Khenz Justiniani and Kerwin de Asis, along with Pete Rodriguez and Angelo Mejia lead the chase for the 12-U crown in the event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.