ILOILO City – Tennis players from across the country showed their wares in the PHILTA Age Group tournament held recently at the Iloilo City Tennis Center in La Paz district.
Ilongga Althea Rose Martirez bagged three championships in the six-day tennis tournament in the 18-and-under and 16-and-under girls singles events, and 18-and-under doubles event.
Martirez ruled the 18-and-under by beating Theresa Claire Nacito in the finals.
She also edged Nacito in the 16-and-under finale.
Martirez and Maria Aguirre teamed up for the 18-and-under doubles crown beating Nacito and Avril Suace.
Vigan’s Exequiel Mari Jucutan, meanwhile, ruled the 18-and-under boys event, beating Stephen Catipon in the finals, and also topped the 16-and-under boys at the expense of Nikhel Nowlakha.
Jucutan also had two doubles golds. He teamed up with Joshua Hidalgo in beating John Benedict Santiago and Elemar Sealza in the 16-and-under finals before pairing with Jude Hidalgo in winning over Catipon and Jon Jimenea in the 18-and-under finals.
Aguirre also won a gold in the 14-and-under girls singles by defeating Ma. Alexandria Onte in the finals.
The two then teamed up in ruling the 14-and-under doubles over Queen Charrae Villa and Rhaiza Borlagdan.
Other gold medal winners were Sealza (14-and-under boys), Aleeva Suace (12-and-under girls), Kirby Ramatcho (12-and-under boys), Marben Alimarin Jr. (8-and-under unisex), Francis de Juan (10-and-under unisex), and Louranne Jallorina and John Rafael Santiago (10-and-under unisex doubles).
The Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA), the national governing body for tennis in the country, sanctioned the tournament as part of the search for young talents that can become part of the national team./PN
