Gonzales, Martin gain in Philta tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Third seed Cenon Gonzales Jr. and No. 7 Jake Martin stormed past their respective rivals in straight-set fashions to roll into the second round of the fifth PSC-Philta National age-group tennis tournament which got under way at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Gonzales dropped just one game to ease out Noah Ramos, 6-1, 6-0, to set up a clash with the winner of the Jose San Buenaventura-Eric Ogawa duel being played at presstime, while Martin overwhelmed Joseph Gadon, 6-1, 6-2, to arrange a duel with the winner in the Kurt Molina-Javier de Jesus faceoff in the boys’ 16-and-under class.

The other fancied bets likewise moved into the second round of the premier boys’ 18-and-U section of the event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by Asiatraders, Corp. for the Dunlop Fort All Court Balls with Emmanuel Fuellas holding off Miguel del Rosario, 6-3, 6-4 and Manuel Balce III booting out Ricarte Santos, 6-0, 6-1.

Joining them in the Last 16 phase are Aidyll Ignacio, who foiled Jeremiah Macias, 6-2, 3-6 (10-7); Romnee Kyle Joseph, who overpowered Michael Tan, 6-2, 6-1; Paolo So, who thwarted Marraphael Teng, 5-7, 7-6(5), (10-5); and Mark Chapa, who downed Kurt Molina, 7-6(5), 6-2.

Balce actually pulled off a double win in the day as he also beat Miguel del Rosario, 6-3, 6-0, in the 16-U category.

Jules Lazaro and Sherwin Villacorte crushed Jaime Chuidian, 6-0, 6-0, and Samuel Mamaril, 6-0, 6-2, to lead the cast in the boys’ 14-and-U along with Javier de Jesus, Marco Ayala, Daniel Estanislao and Eurydice Gaspar.

De Jesus whipped Nemizon Diaz, 6-3, 6-2; Ayala scored a walkover win over Marlon Fortaleza, Estanislao defeated Utsav Shingal, 6-1,6 -3; and Gaspar dominated Lucas Fernandez, 6-1, 6-0.

Other opening day winners in the Philta-organized last ranking tournament for the year are Michael Jimenez, Jose Bernardo, Edgardo Angara, Justine Maneja, Hailey Ella Agustin, Kryshana Brazal, Marcus Guinoo, Sarah Zhang and Samuel Nuguit in the 10-unisex division and Joaquin de Leon, Sherwin Villacorte, James Rohan Cruz and Estanislao in the boys’ 12-and-U class.

Jimenez and Bernardo won by defaults over Alexandra Sy and Kidlat Estogero; Angara outlasted John Belo, 4-1, 3-5(11-9); Maneja blanked Carlos Mateo, 4-0, 4-0; Agustin outplayed Christian Ruanto, 4-2, 4-0; Brazal clipped Allysa Rosales, 4-2, 4-2; Guinoo turned back Prince Salvacion, 1-4, 4-2 (10-7); Zhang won by default over Caleb Gnilo; and Nuguit whitewashed Lance Fernandez, 4-0, 4-0.

De Leon, meanwhile, blasted Paolo Linsangan, 6-1, 6-2; Villacorte demolished Aldwyn Rosales, 6-3, 6-1; Cruz toppled Jonas Pablo, 6-1, 6-0; and Estanislao beat Nemizon Diaz, 6-0, 6-2.