ELIZABETH ABARQUEZ (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
CEBUANA rising tennis sensation Elizabeth Abarquez lived up to the hype as she completed a two-title romp in the 2016 CITIGREEN Junior Tennis Cup yesterday at the Citigreen Tennis Resort in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City.
The 14-year old Abarquez, who is the daughter of multi-titled tennis superstar Israel Abarquez, started the day on the right track by overpowering Siquijor’s pride Ellaine Rose Bahonsua, 6-4, 6-4, to secure the 16-under girl’s crown.
The Palarong Pambansa-bound Abarquez continued her dominance in the afternoon by pulling off a huge upset over top-ranked Shyne Villareal, 6-3, 6-4, in the 18-under category.
“I’m really happy because I’ve only won twice against Shyne in the tournaments I played,” the soft-spoken Abarquez said.
Also in the girl’s division, Cebu’s rising netter Tiffany Claire Nocos subdued Julianna Maravillas, 6-2, 6-0, to rule the 12-under division while Bahonsua rebounded from her loss to Abarquez by bagging the 14-under title with a 6-2, 6-2 win against Lyra Mae Repollo.
In boy’s play, University of the Visayas ace Norman Enriquez grabbed the 18-under boy’s trophy by beating Naga City’s John Clyde Largo, 7-5, 6-3. Venz Alforque and Marc Suson registered separate victories with the former beating Gabriel Andre Trazo, 6-1, 6-1, to bag the 14-under title and the latter defeating Francis Hidalgo, 6-1, 6-0, to take home the 16-under boy’s laurel.
Chad Connor Cuizon downed Douglas Maravillas, 4-1, 5-3, for the 10-unisex crown while Cesar Kristoffer Salimbangon nipped Ashton Benne Villanueva, 6-4, 6-2, to win the 12-under title.