Stars aligned for Bogo City’s Jan Godfrey Seno as he scored a smooth victory over fellow Cebuano John Clyde Laquio, 6-3, 6-2, to claim the 18-under boys crown of the 10th Annual Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championships yesterday at the Citigreen Tennis Resort.
Seno admitted Laquio was not an easy foe but stated that he has seen better opponents in the tournament.
“Laquio was a tough opponent but he wasn’t as tough as the previous ones I played in this tournament,” Seno said.
Earlier in the competition, Seno’s fighting spirit was tested after he escaped Jose Maria Pague of Zamboanga in a three-set thriller, 5-7, 6-4, 10-7.
After his victory, the 16-year-old Seno said he is focusing on the upcoming Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) Meet next month.
“I was thinking of joining the Palawan tennis next month but it is in conflict with the CVIRAA. I’ll focus on the CVIRAA because it’s for the school,” Seno, who represents the University of San Carlos (USC), said.
Also putting up a remarkable effort is Naga City’s Venz Alforque, who bagged the 14-under boys trophy with a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Richard Bautista.
However, that was not the case for 15-year old Cebuano Marc Nicole Suson, who absorbed a heartbreaking loss to Zamboanga’s Jose Maria Pague, 6-4, 6-0 in 16-under boys final.
Suson fought tooth-and-nail with Pague in the early stages of action by trimming the deficit into one, 5-4, but that was as close as he could get as the visiting Pague showcased his deadly form to blank the Cebuano in the second set.
In other games, Iligan City’s Heinz Aslan Carbonilla and Rupert Ohrelle Tortal of Surigao smashed Kurt Gervan Bandolis, 4-0, 4-0, and Brent Cortes, 6-2, 2-6, 10-8, to pocket the 10-under Unisex and 12-under boys titles, respectively.
In the distaff side, Cebuana Tiffany Claire Nocos went home with the 12-under girls championship after a 6-1, 6-4 triumph over Maxie Rica Labrador while Macie Carlos nipped Sydney Ezra Enriquez, 6-2, 2-6, 10-6, for the 14-under title.