Gonzales, Talatayod bag PSC-Philta net crowns

MANILA, Philippines - Second seed Marcen Gonzales and No. 1 Aljohn Talatayod closed out the junior tennis season in big fashions, ruling their respective divisions at the close of the fifth PSC-Philta National age-group tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Gonzales ended Chris Prulla’s win spree with an emphatic 6-3, 6-2 triumph to pocket the boys’ 18-and-under plum while Talatayod played true to form and dominated second seed Jan Harold Trillanes, 6-3, 6-0, to annex the boys’ 12-U title in the event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Tennis Association.

It was a dominating performance by Talatayod, who never conceded a set in the five-day competition, Philta’s season-ending ranking juniors tournament.

Cenon Gonzales Jr. completed the big day for the Gonzales siblings in the Group 1 tournament backed by Asiatraders, Corp. for the Dunlop Fort All Court Balls as he captured the 16-U crown with an equally imposing 6-3, 6-1 romp over Justin Suarez while third ranked Frances Santiago took the girls’ 16-U title with a thrilling 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over the young Villanueva.

Top seed Mikaela Vicencio also lived up to her billing but needed to rebound from a poor opening set performance to foil No. 2 Miles Vitaliano in another three-setter, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, and secure the girls’ 14-U crown while No. 1 Alexandra Eala likewise imposed her will and strength over No. 2 Vitaliano to fashion out a 6-1, 6-3 victory for the girls’ 12-U plum.

Miguel Vicencio, meanwhile, wore down Samuel Nuguit in a gripping duel of the fancied bets in the 10-unisex section with the top seeded bet hacking out a 5-3, 3-4, 4-2 victory.

No. 3 Frances Angelica Santiago capped her impressive performance in the girls’ 16-U class with a nerve-wracking 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over a feisty 14-year-old Rafaella Villanueva in the most entertaining match of the day.

It was a tough week for Santiago, who came into the finals trying to recover from a marathon 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 decision over top seed Nikki Ong last Monday.

It was, however, a sorry setback for the 14-year-old Villanueva, daughter of Philta vice president and Philippine Davis Cup team administrator Randy, who had hoped to snare a title in the higher division after dominating her age group. The multiple winner in the Olivarez Cup and Palawan Pawnshop circuit had also represented the country in the Women’s Tennis Association age group tournament in Singapore last October.