Llamas outlasts De Asis for PPS-PEPP title repeat

MANILA, Philippines - Tracy Llamas recovered from a second set meltdown and hacked out a 6-2, 0-6, 10-5 victory over Kiana de Asis to cop the girls’ 16-and-under crown, completing a second straight two-title romp in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional tennis circuit in Dumalag, Capiz yesterday.

Llamas came through with big shots in the decider to frustrate De Asis then dominated Avril Suace, 6-1, 6-0, to pocket the 18-U title at the Dumalag Tennis Club as the La Carlota, Negros Occidental ace duplicated her feat in the kickoff leg of the circuit presented by Slazenger in Roxas City last week.

Top seed Macie Carlos matched that two-title mark with an equally tough 6-3, 5-7, 10-5 decision over De Asis in the 14-U finals with the National Capital Region bet also bagging the 12-U diadem with a 6-1, 6-0 romp over Alexa Milliam.

“Llamas is enjoying top form, a result of hard work and determination while Carlos lived up to her billing,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro. “While it was doubly frustrating for De Asis, we believe those setbacks will further toughen her up for her next tournament.”

San Carlos City’s Ryle Singson, meanwhile, upstaged the fancied bets in the boys’ premier side, repulsing No. 8 Reynan Mahusay, 3-6, 6-1, 10-3, in the semis then thumping Jarul Marquez, 6-1, 6-1, in the finals while local ace and No. 6 Justin Alba also upended No. 4 Mahusay, 3-6, 7-5, 10-4, to snare the 16-U plum in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and hosted by Mayor Amado Eriberto Castro Jr.

Second seed Angelo Mejia from Roxas City and Jan Lamparero of Cabatuan, Iloilo took the boy’s 14- (1-0) and 12-U (6-2, 2-5) titles, respectively, as John Guillano retired due to injury while JM Reguera, also from Cabatuan, crushed top seed Ella Fullo, 4-1, 4-0, to claim the 10-unisex crown in the event backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, the official ball of the circuit, and sanctioned by Philta.

Meanwhile, Tacloban hosts the third leg on Jan. 21-25, another Group 3 tournament. Listup is open, according to tournament organizer and supervisor Bobby Mangunay, also the PPS-PEPP sports program development director. For details, call 0915-4046464 or log on to www.palawanpawnshoptennis.com.