Top guns dominate Olivarez-Philta opener

MANILA, Philippines - Roxanne Resma and Rachelle de Guzman came away with a pair of 6-0, 6-1 victories to lead the fancied bets’ charge at the start of the Olivarez-Philta Open Tennis Championships presented by Palawan Pawnshop Express Pera Padala at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque over the weekend.

The top seeded Resma overwhelmed Janna Hernandez while the No. 2 De Guzman rolled past Andie Villarosa to set up a quarterfinal showdown with No. 6 Jzash Canja and No. 8 Khim Iglupas, who both scored walkover wins, in the girls’ 16-and-under division.

Iglupas, meanwhile, toppled Hernandez to advance to the second round of the 18-and-under play against top ranked Samantha Coyiuto, who drew an opening round bye in the two-week long, ranking tournament featuring the country’s leading players and rising stars.

Resma also gained in the premier class with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Kim Uytico to arrange a duel with Isabella Mendoza, who subdued Catherine Po, 6-2, 6-0. Others who advanced were Macy Gonzales, Eren Penados, Lenelyn Milo, Maia Balce, Katrina Orteza, Ana Bienes, Harem Bugarin, Canja and De Guzman.

In boys’ play, top seed Jerome Romualdez blanked Santino Vistan, 6-0, 6-0, the same score posted by No. 3 Arthur Pantino over Ambrose Besas, while No. 5 Chris Prulla scored a 6-0, 6-1 romp over Rodel Velarde in the 14-and-under category.

Also advancing are Mar Raphael Teng, who got past Tim Gumban, 6-2, 6-1, Vincent Alanis, who booted out Thomas Puno, 6-1, 6-1, Marcus del Rosario, who held off Al Burahan, 6-1, 6-4, and No. 6 Jacob Martin, who won by default over Miguel Cerrado.

Martin and Teng, the top two seeds, respectively, in the 12-and-under division of the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop Express Pera Padala, through Philta regional vice-president and Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro, likewise cruised to the next round with the former beating John Guanzon, 6-0, 6-0, and the latter whipping Matthew Garcia, 6-0, 6-1.

Manuel Balce III also scored an easy 6-0, 6-0 rout of John Zamora.

Meanwhile, action resumes today with matches in boys’ 18-, 16-, 14- and 12- and girls’ 18-, 14-, 12-and-under classes and 10-unisex, according to tournament in-charge Bobby Mangunay. For details, contact 0195-4046464 or email [email protected] or 523-6415 (Philta) or 0928-5526433 or 02-8202237 (Olivarez Sports Center).