CEBUANA netter Tiffany Claire Nocos shone the brightest after she snared the 10-unisex and girls 12-Under titles in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis tournament at the Naga City Tennis Club (NCTC) yesterday.
Nocos, who hails from Lapu-Lapu City, flirted with disaster before escaping Alain Ocat, 3-5, 5-4(3), 12-10, in the Unisex division and then carried her momentum against Lyra Mae Repollo, 6-1, 3-6, 10-7, in the U-12 finals for a two-title romp.
“We thank Palawan Pawnshop for staging this tournament which drew the top young players from various cities and towns of the region. We also invite tennis aficionados to watch the national men’s players in the Open Championship,” said City of Naga mayor Valdemar Chiong of the NCTC.
Not to be outdone is two-time Batang Pinoy gold medalist Elizabeth Abarquez also bagged two titles.
Abarquez took home the 16-under and 14-under plums, annihilating fellow Cebuana Zethley Mae Alferez, 6-1, 6-3, and Wyne Paglinawan, 6-1, 6-4, respectively.
After her stinging loss to Abarquez, local ace Alferez rebounded quickly, dominating Kristin Salimbangon, 6-1, 6-2, to pocket the girls U-18 title.
In the boys division, Norman Enriquez of Pardo, Cebu blasted Wyndell Deja, 6-0, 6-2, for the boys’ U-18 crown while Justin Suarez of Manila and Lance Raven Hitosis took home the boys U-16 and U-12 titles, respectively.
Meanwhile, action is expected to reach fever-pitch as Davis Cuppers PJ Tierro, Johnny Arcilla and Jeson Patrombon and regular campaigners Ronard Joven, Vicente Anasta, Fritz Verdad, Arvin Ruel, Deo Talatayod, Diego Dalisay, Kyle Parpan, John Mari Altiche, Leander Lazaro, Israel Abarquez and Kennex Abadia will take on the floor tomorrow.