Villanueva, Eala cop First Gen crowns

MANILA, Philippines - Rafa Villanueva and Michael Eala put on a pair of sterling rounds and dominated their rivals with straight-set victories to rule their respective divisions in the fifth First Gen Juntaphil Metro Age Group Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

The top-ranked Villanueva outplayed Bettina Bautista in the opening set then shut out her third seeded rival in the next to complete an emphatic 6-2, 6-0 rout and capture the girls’ 12-and-under title in the Group I tournament presented by First Gen Corporation and sponsored by Smart Communications.

Eala likewise ran away with the 10-unisex plum for the second straight year, blanking Ryotaro Shimomura, 4-0, 4-0, to re-stake his claim as the country’s leading player in his group.

It was a virtual week-long stroll for Villanueva and Eala with the former dropping just six games in four matches and the latter yielding just five games in five matches, including three shutout wins.

Top seed Roxanne Resma held off Frances Santiago, 6-4, 6-1, to pocket the girls’ 16-U title even as she goes for a golden double against top seed Samantha Coyiuto in the 18-U finals being played at presstime.

Meanwhile, Santiago, who upset top ranked Colleen Sioson in the semis, and unranked Khim Iglupas, who shocked No. 2 Villanueva and No. 4 Nicole Amistad, were disputing the girls’ 14-U diadem at presstime.

Top seed Christian Lopez rolled past Sohaimen Mama, 6-1, 6-1, to arrange a title showdown with No. 8 Chris Justine Prulla in the boys’ 14-U class of the event backed by Technifibre as official ball, and RCBC, Pet One, Brother Sewing Machines and conducted by Juntaphil.

Prulla, who upended second seed Jerome Romualdez in the quarters, sustained his top form and booted out No. 3 Cenon Gonzales Jr., 6-1, 6-3, to gain a crack at the crown.

Top seed Jed Olivarez clipped Vinz Ramiscal, 6-0, 6-3, to cruise to the finals of the boys’ 16-U against the winner of the Marcen Gonzales-Kyle Parpan match, also being played at presstime.