Espinosa is lone Cebuano champ in Smart-Head tennis

HANNAH Grace Espinosa became the only Cebuano who grabbed a title in the 2013 Smart-Head Junior Tennis Satellite, which ended yesterday at the Cebu International Tennis Centre in Laray, Consolacion.

Espinosa, who is playing in her last year in age-group tournaments, outsmarted Erika Manduriao, 6-2, 7-5, for the 18 Under girls title.

The rest of the titles were pocketed by visiting netters with Palawan’s Alexie Santos bringing home two via the 16 and 14 Under Girls.

In the 16 Under, Santos survived Jana Pages of Bright Academy, 4-6, 6-2, 10-5, for the title while in the 14 Under, the Palawan netter frustrated another Bright Academy netter in Zethley Mae Alferez, 6-2, 6-0, for the title.

Sultan Kudarat’s Carling Guarde also lambasted a local netter in Cristela Marie Sampan, 6-0, 6-1, for the 12 Under Girls title.

In the Boys division, Koronadal’s Janus Alnajeeb Ringia bagged two titles via the 12 and 14 Under categories.

Ringia thrashed Cebu’s Vince Anton Alforque, 6-1, 6-2, for the 12 Under Boys title while he benefited big from a walkover against Manila’s Justin Suarez for the 14 Under Boys title.

The older Ringia—Miko, likewise did not have to work hard for the 16 Under Boys title after Davao’s Jeleardo Amazona retired in the second set with Miko Ringia already having won the first set, 6-3.

Amazona earlier survived a three-set ordeal against Cebu’s Francis Parangan, 2-6, 6-4, 10-4, for the 18 Under boys title.

The 10 Under Unisex title was notched by Palawan’s Sebastian Santos, who routed Cebu’s Cesar Kristofer Salimbangon, 6-1, 6-1./CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON