INQUIRER Sports

SHOHEI MARUTA SPARKED TOYO GAKUEN University to an 8-4 demolition of De La Salle Tuesday in the Philippines-Japan University Friendship Tennis ?09 at the Alabang Country Club.

The 6-foot-2 college freshman scored in the boys? doubles and preserved his unblemished singles record in the four-day tournament between the Tokyo-based university and three of the country?s top collegiate teams.

Maruta paired with Kazuto Kawata to down Pemrick Alina and Ed Amor, 8-4, before disposing of La Salle?s No. 1 player Mike Basco, 6-3.

Only Ateneo managed to score a triumph over the visitors, who also prevailed over University of the Philippines Monday.

Toyo Gakuen was to cap its stint against the RP national pool late yesterday at the Palms Country Club.

Ryohei Okada and Kazuhiro Hashima chalked up an 8-4 decision over David Dekoenigswater and Johnwill Baldonado for Toyo Gakuen?s first win.

Boom Regis finally scored for La Salle in the boys? singles by routing Okada, 6-1, but Kazuto Kawata trounced Marlo Espedido,6-3, and Hashima downed Pemrick Alina, 6-3.

The visitors swept the girls? doubles with Kana Morimoto and Ayaka Iwata blasting Enah Baba and Kirstie Barraguias, 8-2; and Yumiko Watanabe and Kurumi Suzuki besting Regina Santiago and Martina Guba, 8-7(3).

The La Salle girls struck back through Guba, Santiago and Barraguias in the singles by winning over Morimoto (6-4), Watanabe (6-3) and Suzuki (6-3), respectively. Iwata routed Baba, 6-2, in the other girls? singles.