Balce dumps Frias, waits for semis foe

MIK BALCE has been targeting two championships in one prestigious tournament.

The 16-year-old from Ateneo began the ambitious mission yesterday with a 6-0, 6-0, whipping of Elijah Frias at the start of the 1st Philta Presidents Cup Age Group Tennis Championships at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Balce’s easy triumph in the boys’ 18 and under propelled him to a semifinal face-off with either No. 1 seed Gabriel Tiamson and Rafaan Kabir, a walkover winner over Ranz Javier.

Earlier, Balce won by default against Javier in the second round of the boys’ 16 and under where Balce, who hails from Valle Verde in Pasig City, is the top seed in the annual tournament organized in honor of the past presidents of the Philippine Tennis Association.

Palarong Pambansa bronze medalist Edgardo Manuel “Manolo” Angara also charged ahead to the next round after an impressive 6-1, 6-0 performance over Lukas Yupangco in the boys’ 12 and under bracket.

The eldest son of Sen. Sonny Angara faces the winner between seventh seed Kidlat Estogero and Sean Andrei Bernardo in today’s quarterfinals of the Group 1 meet.

In the girls’ 16 and under, Justine Alvarado arranged a semifinal meeting with either Kryshana Brazal and Justine So following a hard-earned 6-4, 6-3 victory over Eliana Misa.

Second seed Miles Vitaliano also kicked off her campaign on a promising note, scoring a 6-1, 6-0 triumph over Frenchesca Elise Cruz in the girls’ 14 and under category.