Cari, Torres score big in PPS-PEPP Tacloban leg

MANILA, Philippines - Anica Cari romped off with a three-title win while Joshua Torres racked up two victories as the Baybay City bets stamped their class in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis tournament at Tacloban City Tennis Club in Leyte yesterday.

The top-seeded Cari, 14, overpowered her rivals in the girls’ 14- and 16-and-under finals, blanking Mia Gemida from Valencia and Nikki Daguman from Calbayog, respectively, before scoring a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Ella Espina in the 18-U section where she was an unranked player.

Torres, on the other hand, crushed Polo Corre from McArthur, 6-2, 6-2, to cop the boys’ 14-U title then outclassed Cresente Ampon from Borongan, 6-0 6-0, in the 16-U finals of the four-day, Group 5 tournament presented by Technifibre and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

“We thank Palawan Pawnshop for this tennis program which benefits the young players here in Tacloban not only in developing the sport but also in inspiring our youth,” said Judge Mario Melchor, president of the host TTC.

Tacloban’s Michael Cuento trampled fellow unseeded Jemuel Baduria from Guiuan, 6-1, 6-0, to claim the boys’ 18-U plum while John Martin Darang from Salcedo stunned top seed Franconer Nuñez from Baybay, 6-2, 6-2, to bag the 12-U diadem in the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop.