Villanueva shocks Ong for first finals seat

MANILA, Philippines - Rafaella Villanueva pounded top seed Nikki Ong with a brilliant all-around game and snatched a 6-3, 6-4 victory to nail the first finals berth in the girls’ premier division of the fifth PSC-Philta National age-group tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Villanueva, 14, dominated Ong in the opening set then broke her once in the second to complete a straight-set victory and arrange a showdown with the winner of the Frances Santiago-Colleen Sioson for the 18-and-Under crown in the event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and held under the auspices of the Philippine Tennis Association.

Villanueva, daughter of Philta vice president and Davis Cup administrator Randy, has given up participating in her age bracket to focus on the 16 and 18-year-old brackets.

In fact, Villanueva topped the 16-Under event last year and represented the country in the strong World Tennis Association age group tournament in Singapore

Santiago, meanwhile, also humbled top pick Ong in a thrilling duel, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, to barge into the finals of the 16-U section of the Group 1 tournament backed by Asiatraders Corp. for the Dunlop For All Court Balls.

Santiago will take on the winner of the other semis duel pitting Nicole Amistad, who pulled the rug from under No. 6 Melanie Faye Dizon, 6-4, 2-6, 10-8, and No. 5 Villanueva, who stunned No. 2 Sioson, 6-3, 6-4.

Jed Labasano, seeded third, also stunned top seed Marcus del Rosario, 7-5, 6-3, to arrange a title duel with No. 2 Stefan Lhuillier, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over No. 4 Aljohn Talatayod, 6-1, 6-4, in the boys’ 14-U category.

No. 5 Samuel Nuguit rode on the crest of his pulsating 4-2, 5-4 (6), 10-4 win over No. 2 Macie Carlos Sunday as he brought down another higher ranked opponent in No. 4 Marc Andrei Jarata, 1-4, 4-2, 4-2, to advance to the boys’ 10-unisex finale.

But Nuguit will face off with heavily favored Miguel Luis Vicencio, who downed No. 8 James Rohan Cruz, 5-3, 4-0. 

In the girls’ 12-U class, fancied Alexan Eala and Miles Vitaliano restored order by smashing No. 4 Gabby Zoleta, 6-0, 6-0, and No. 3 Denise Bernardo, 6-0, 6-2, respectively, to set up a title encounter.

Mikaela Vicencio lived up to her top billing by slamming No. 3 Maxine Martin, 6-2, 6-1, to seal a title clash in the girls’ 14-U division against No. 2 Miles Vitaliano, 6-3, 6-2.

Ateneo sophomore Cenon Gonzales Jr., 15, upended No. 2 Jerome Romualdez, 6-3, 6-0, to reach the finals of the boys’ 16-U against the winner in the Jake Martin-Justin Suarez semis faceoff. Martin scored a walkover win over Mark Chapa while Suarez toppled Emmanuel Fuellas, 6-4, 7-6(3).

The favorites, meanwhile, held sway in the boys’ 12-U as No. 1 Aljohn Talatayod turned back a tough Eurydice Gaspar, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, and No. 2 Jan Harold Trillianes repulsing Miguel Vicencio, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.