Leanna Barrido and Claudwin Tonacao won the 14-and-under titles at the PCA Open-Palawan Pawnshop Juniors Tennis Championships, taking contrasting routes to the trophy at the PCA outdoor courts. Barrido needed a tiebreak to win her opening set; Tonacao dropped four games across the whole final.
Barrido Edges Wong in the Girls' Final
Barrido beat Francine Wong 7-6(6), 6-4 in a tense girls' championship match. She took the first set on a tiebreak before closing out the second 6-4.
The report credited Barrido's fighting spirit and composure for carrying her through the final. Wong pushed the match into a tiebreak and stayed within two games in the second set, but could not force a decider.
Tonacao Beats Eighth Seed De Juan
Tonacao won the boys' final 6-1, 6-3 against eighth seed Francisco De Juan III. He closed what the report described as a remarkable run with a dominant performance in the championship match.
The scoreline separated the two finalists early: Tonacao gave up only one game in the first set and three in the second, ending the match without a tiebreak or a dropped set in the final.
Palawan Pawnshop Adds Another Junior Event
The championships now sit inside Palawan Pawnshop's expanding tennis programme, which also includes the Gentry, Olivarez and Palawan Open tournaments. The company described the addition as a way to strengthen its presence in the local tennis scene.
For junior players in the Philippines, the practical effect is another stop on a calendar that already carries several Open-level events under the same sponsor. The 14-and-under draw is where that pipeline begins, and both finals were decided by players who had to manage a close set — Barrido in a tiebreak, Tonacao by shutting down a seeded opponent.
The original report was published by philstar.com.
