Opulencia, Coyiuto prevail in Alabang

MANILA—Samantha Mae Coyiuto outlasted Rachelle De Guzman in a thrilling marathon finale, 7-6, 2-6, 7-5, to claim the premier girls’ 18-under title of the Alabang 1018 Age Group Tennis Championships yesterday at the Alabang Country Club.
Surviving three match points at 5-4 in the third set, Coyiuto leaned on her cross-court returns to emerge victorious in the deuce-filled match that took a gruelling three hours and thirty minutes to settle.
“I had a hard time analyzing her weaknesses and pouncing on them,” said the 16-year-old Coyuito. “Fortunately, I was able to make the adjustments and make big shots at the right moment.”
Maria Angela Sunga captured the girls’ 16-under tiara at the expense of Erika Manduriao, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Juan Alfonso Opulencia banked on his experience and familiarity with the ACC’s Hard courts in drubbing Andrew Joshua Cano, 6-3, 6-3, to snare the boys’ 18-under title.
“My tactic was to play steady long rallies and make net incursions if opportunity called for it,” Opulencia said.
Rising from her defeat in the girls’ 16-under final, Manduriao stunned Maia Balce, 7-5, 6-4, to crown herself champion in the 14-under.
Monica Cruz, meanwhile, turned back Rafaella Villanueva, 6-3, 6-1, to emerge the 12-under champion. In the boys’ division, Michael Eala secured the 10-under crown by beating Maverick Legaspi, 6-1, 6-1, before turning back Jerome Romualdez, 6-4, 7-6 , for the 12-under title.