INQUIRER Sports

PHILIPPINE DAVIS CUPPERS Johnny Arcilla and PJ Tierro led the national pool members to a sweep of the singles matches against Toyo Gakuen University at the close of the Philippines-Japan University Friendship Tennis 2009 at the Palms Country Club Wednesday.

Arcilla drubbed Kazuhiro Hashima, 6-0, and his Laos Southeast Asian Games teammate Tierro downed Shohei Maruta, 8-5.

RK Barte crushed Ryohei Okada, 8-3, and Jaime Solon whipped Kazuto Mawata, 8-1, in the other boys? pairings while Jessie Agra dominated Ayaka Iwata, 8-2, and Michelle Pang trounced Kurumi Suzuki, 8-1, in the girls? singles.

The rest of the singles matches were cancelled due to rains, and the main singles pitting Arcilla and Hashima was cut to just six games.

Top guy for Toyo Gakuen Shohei Maruta said they were inspired by the pros. ?We are disappointed that matches got cancelled because of rains because we were playing very well. I think we have improved a lot because of these dual meets,? said Maruta, the top Toyo Gakuen bet.

Toyo Gakuen prevailed over University of the Philippines and La Salle after losing to Ateneo,7-5, at the start of their dual meet last Sunday.

The Japanese, who stayed with foster families in Alabang, downed UP, 7-5, and La Salle, 8-4.

The Japanese later teamed up with the RP pool members in the doubles with Maruta and Tierro besting Kawata and Solon, 8-4, and Okata and Arcilla beating Hashima and Barte, 8-5.

Suzuki and Agra beat Yumiko Watanabe and Christine Patrimonio, 8-7(3), while Kana Morimoto and Bambi Zoleta nipped Iwata and Pang, 8-7(6).