UNSEEDED Monika Therese Cruz surprised No. 3 Nicole Amistad with a 6-4, 6-1 victory to clinch a quarterfinal berth in the girls’ 16-and-under class of the Philippine Sports Commission-Philta Age-Group Championships yesterday at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Cruz broke Amistad once to win the first set, then sustained her form in the next to arrange a Last 8 duel with Ma. Dominique Ong, who subdued Samantha Vilar, 6-0, 6-2.
No. 4 Kim Iglupas scored a walkover win over Samantha Um to join Cruz and Ong in the last eight.
Jacob Martin and Mico Eala hurdled their first round foes to likewise join the seeded bets in the second round of the boys’ 14-and-under division of the weeklong tournament.
Martin, 11, routed Ryotaro Shimomura, 6-3, 6-3, while Eala blanked Adam Sujica, 6-0, 6-0.
Top seed Cenon Gonzales Jr., No. 2 Emmanuel Vacallares, No. 3 Soheimen Mama, No. 4 Jan Godfrey Seno and No. 5 Justin Prulla drew opening-round byes.
Others who advanced were Li-Yang Thean, Alquin Flores, Daniel Villasenor, Brysl Libao, Emmanuel Balce III, Norlan Gaspar and Mimo Tomacruz.