Gonzales wrests First Gen plum

MANILA, Philippines - Second seed Cenon Gonzales Jr. stamped his class over 10-unisex champion Michael Eala and came away with a convincing 6-0, 6-1 to capture the boys’ 12-under crown in the First Gen/Juntaphil Metro Age Group tennis tournament at the Philippine Columbian Association courts yesterday.

Third seed Akiko de Guzman overwhelmed Khrizelle Sampaton and essayed a 6-0, 6-3 victory to annex the girls’ 18-under diadem while No. 3 Erika Manduriao held off fourth ranked Jenni Dizon, 6-4, 7-5, to pocket the girls’ 14-under crown in the event presented by First Gen Corporation and sponsored by Smart Communications.

Not even the rain could slow down Gonzales, who cut Eala down to size with his superb baseline game. After a shutout win in the first set, the Ateneo grade school student never gave Eala room for a comeback, asserting his might over his younger opponent, who reigned in the 10-unisex side over Diego Dayrit Saturday.

It was a big win for Gonzales, No. 4 in the current Philta 12-under ranking who also captured the national age group title in Angeles, Pampanga and finished runner in the Juntaphil Cup in Baguio last week.

Meanwhile, organizers had to move the finals of the event, sanctioned by Philta, organized by Juntaphil and backed by Technifibre, to the PCA courts after the rains drenched and rendered the Rizal Memorial tennis courts unplayable.

De Guzman, meanwhile, frustrated Sampaton with her A-game in the opening set then broke her rival twice in the second to complete her run of straight-set victories, that included a 6-1, 6-1 roll over Isabelle Mendoza and a masterful 6-0, 6-2 upset win over second seed Samantha Coyiuto in the semifinal round.

Manduriao, on the other hand, outsteadied Dizon in a closely fought contest to join the winners podium in the weeklong tournament which featured the country’s leading players and rising stars in the ranks.