Ong cops PSC-Philta 18-U crown

MANILA, Philippines - Fancied Maria Dominique Ong poured it all out in the decider to foil No. 4 Frances Santiago, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, and annex the premier girls’ 18-and-under crown in the fifth PSC-Philta National age-group tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

The 16-year-old Ong, one of the country’s top junior netters, recovered from a second set defeat with a solid all-around game in the third where she broke Santiago twice to nail the coveted crown in the five-day event, the season-ending tournament of the Philippine Tennis Association.

Ong, who posted a runner-up finish in Bangladesh last month, actually overpowered Rafaella Villanueva in the semis, 6-3, 6-1, contrary to what was previously reported that the latter scored a 6-3, 6-4 win over the former. And the top seeded bet went on to clinch the crown with a gutsy performance in the decider against Santiago.

Ong also reached the semis of the girls’ 16-U class with a 6-0, 6-2 romp over Bettina Bautista but dropped a 3-6, 7-5 3 6 decision to Santiago, who clipped Villanueva, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, in the finals.

Other winners in the event were Marcen Gonzales (18-U), Cenon Gonzales Jr. (16-U), Aljohn Talatayod (12-U), Mikaela Vicencio (14-U), Alexandra Eala (12-U), and Miguel Vicencio (10-unisex).