Laurel brothers advance

CEBU, Philippines - The Laurel brothers Jermaine and Jarryd Laurel were among the earliest players to march into the second round of the 17th Gullas Cup tennis tournament yesterday at the Cebu International Tennis Centre, Inc . (CITCI) courts in Laray, Consolacion.

Jarryd Laurel clobbered Karl Arthur Elecion, 6-0 ,6-1, while his brother Jermaine was also impressive in a 6-1, 6-0 rout of Carl Lopingcao to advance in the boys 16 division, which drew the most number of entries with 34.

They are joined into the next phase of the competition by Harvey Gelbuena, Francis Pepito, Nino Balanay, Francis John Quino, Jade Sebastian Mosqueda and Al Lorenzo Miguel Logronio.

Gelbuena defeated Gio Pepito, 6-2, 6-4, Francis Pepito silenced Christian Albano,     6-0, 6-0, while Quino shrugged off a jittery start to fend off Glenn Bacuyot, 7-5, 6-1.

Balanay scored a masterful 6-0, 6-1 demolition of Luis Bugtae, Mosqueda outlasted Manuel Navales,   6-0, 6-0, while Logronio pulled off a 7-6, 6-2 triumph over Roy Cortez.

The Gullas Cup, a Group 2 PHILTA-sanctioned event, is one of the longest and best-run age-group tennis tournaments in the country. (FREEMAN)