Gen. Trias bets rule Palawan Zentro netfest

Unranked Ella Mhae Paglalunan and fellow Gen. Trias, Cavite standout Raven Licayan powered a sweep of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors in the Zentro Juniors Age-Group Championships, with Paglalunan completing a two-title romp and Licayan adding a boys’ crown at the Zentro courts and Pulilan Tennis Club in Bulacan last Monday.

Paglalunan stole the spotlight in the girls’ 16-and-under singles, toppling three seeded rivals on her way to the title before ruling the 14U division as well to emerge as the lone double-gold medalist in the Group 2 tournament sanctioned by Philta and Universal Tennis Ranking.

The rising star from Gen. Trias first disposed of Maxine Chua and Alexa Morales in the opening rounds, then routed No. 4 seed Michaela Suarez, 6-1, before scoring a 6-3, ret. victory over No. 2 Jan Cadee Dagoon in the semifinals.

Paglalunan then capped her stunning run with a 6-1, 6-0 demolition of No. 6 seed Lilith Rufino in the championship.

Earlier, Paglalunan lived up to her top billing in the girls’ 14U class, dropping just eight games in five matches. She completed the sweep with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Rufino in the final.

Licayan likewise emerged as a double finalist and one of the tournament’s two co-MVPs, securing the boys’ 12U crown with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Leonardo Manio III.

The Gen. Trias bet, however, fell short in his bid for a second title after yielding to top seed Jan Caleb Villeno, 2-6, 6-4, 2-6, in the boys’ 14U semifinals. Villeno went on to beat Juan Antonio Cablitas, 6-2, 6-1, for the championship.