Pinoy netters gain in Phinma Week-2

MANILA, Philippines - Four local bets, headed by second seed Eric Olivarez Jr. and Marcen Gonzales, pounded out contrasting victories to advance to the second round of the boys’ singles in the Phinma-PSC International Juniors Tennis Championships – Week 2 yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Olivarez, out to atone for his first round defeat in Week I of the Grade 4 ITF (International Tennis Federation) 18-Under category event last week, flashed top form to blast Jernej Zaplotnik of Slovenia, 6-2, 6-3, to set up a clash with the winner of the match pitting Hao Sheng Koay of Malaysia vs Japan’s Daisuke Sumizawa. The    match  was being played at presstime.

Gonzales, on the other hand, recovered from a second set defeat to stun sixth seed Omar Ahmed of Saudi Arabia, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, in a big rebound from his first round ouster in first of two stages of the annual event sponsored by the Phinma Group of Companies, Philippine Sports Commission and Mariposa Foundation.

Andrew Cano, who reached the second round last week, survived a stubborn Jack Pulliam of the US, squeezing out a tough 7-5, 7-5 win.

Dave Mosqueda, who lost to Zaplotnik in the first round last week, also eked out a hard-earned 7-5, 7-5 victory over Thai Tannupat Atthakorn.

Top seed Toru Horie of Japan set his bid for a sweep of the twin titles with a walkover win over Cenon Gonzales Jr., while No. 7 Kittirat Kerdlaphee of Thailand repulsed Japan’s Rimpei Kawakami, 7-6(5), 6-0.

Two other Filipinos bumped into talented rivals and lost. Stefan Suarez dropped a sorry 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 setback to Hong Kong’s Alester Magalit, while Chris Prulla bowed to Japan’s Yunosuke Tanaka, 6-2, 7-5.

Meanwhile, top seed Khim Iglupas resumes her drive for a second straight girls’ singles title as she clashes with Asumi Kanazawa today while Monica Cruz also guns for a quarters berth against Alvina Lai of Hong Kong, according to tournament director Loida Mallare.

Maia Balce also sees action against Taiwan’s Yuelin Chen while Frances Santiago battles No. 6 M. Chimura of Japan, both seeking spots in the Last 8 stage of the event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association and backed by Asiatraders Corp for the Dunlop balls.

 Wannawit Srirasa of Thailand is the event’s ITF supervisor/referee.