Angara, Gaspar pull thru in First Gen opener

MANILA, Philippines - Edgardo Angara fought back from a set down and outpointed Alfredo Doloroso in the decider to hack out a 1-4, 4-2, 4-2 win while Eurydice Gaspar held off Denise Bernardo, 5-3, 4-0, in the 10-unisex class of the fifth First Gen Juntaphil Metro Age Group Tennis Championships which got going yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Also moving to the second round in the 64-player field were Pearl Patoc, Erika Manalo, Jianna Gerial, Karl Miguel, Don Lominoque, Daniel Estanislao III, Justin Maneja and Matthew Carasus.

Patoc downed Elijah Guillermo, 4-2, 4-0; Manalo disposed of Adam Sujica, 4-0, 4-2; Gerial dominated Amelie Matta, 4-1, 4-0; Miguel whipped Ethan Ante, 4-0, 4-0.

Lominoque, Estanislao, Maneja and Carasus advanced via walkover wins.

Defending champion top seed Michael Eala and No. 2 Hiromasa Ishikawa drew opening day byes in the 10-unisex division lined up in the week-long Group I tournament presented by First Gen Corp. and sponsored by Smart Communications.

The 10-unisex tilt is being played over four sets and with no umpires in line with the International Tennis Federation’s 10s program, according to the organizing Junior Tennis Association of the Phils.

Janelle Videz and Maegan Reyes, meanwhile, won by default to get through in the girls’ 14-and-under class of the event backed by official ball Technifibre and RCBC, Pet One, Accel and Kimura Chavez and conducted by Juntaphil.

Meanwhile, top seed Jed Olivarez kicks off his title drive in the boys’ 16-and-under division as he takes on Mikio Shimomura today No. 1 Jake Martin squares off with Santino Vistan in the featured match in the boys’ 12-and-under category.

Rafa Villanueva, on the other hand, heads the 32-player field in the girls’ 12-U division along with second seed Blanche Lagrisola, No. 3 Bettina Bautista, fourth seed Mikaela Vicencio, No. 5 Maxine Martin, sixth ranked Anya Fuentes, No. 7 Gabby Zoleta and eighth seed Bea de Ocampo.