Suarez, 3 other Filipino netters gain 2nd round

JUSTIN Suarez subdued Indonesian Enrique Garcia, 6-2, 6-2, to lead three other local bets in the second round of the two-day qualifier for the PSC-Phinma International Juniors Tennis Championships at Manila Polo Club (MPC) in Makati City yesterday.

Vince Salas eased out compatriot Jacob Martin, 6-0, 6-4, while Manuel Balce III trounced Joaquin de Venecia, 6-0, 6-1, in the boys’ side while Mikaela Vicencio scored a walkover win over Samantha Um of the US in the girls’ division of the Grade 4 ITF tournament backed by major sponsors Phinma Group of Companies and the Philippine Sports Commission.

But Vicencio will have her hands full as she goes for the one of the four spots in the main draw staked in the elims as she faces second seed Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thai today even as compatriot Maria So tangles with No. 1 Tiffany Nguyen of the United States.

Meanwhile, Arthur Craig Pantino, Michael Francis Eala II, Cenon Gonzales and Joel Atienza gained wild cards in the tournament proper firing off tomorrow (Tuesday), also at the MPC, while Shaira Hope Rivera, Rafaella Jean Villanueva, Frances Santiago and Jacqueline Tan Ho also earned wild card spots in the girls’ side.

Other local bets gunning for spots in the boys’ main draw of the ITF (International Tennis Federation) 18-Under category tournament are Stefan Suarez, Chris Prulla, Franco Tambunting, Noel Damian, Stephan Lhuillier, Marco Ayala and Diego Dalisay.

In other results, Japan’s Yusuke Nishitahi upended top seed Stefan Suarez, 7-5, 1-6, 6-4; Vietnam’s Phuong Van Nguyen ousted Paulo So, 2-6, 6-3, 6-1; Brunei’s Andi Hambali Abdullah whipped Jaime Almario, 6-1, 6-1; and Chantel Thongphok of the US crushed Danielle Poblador, 6-1, 6-0.