Eala clips Martin, reaches Philta girls semifinals

Alex Eala bundled out second seed Maxine Martin, 6-0, 6-1, to crash into the girls’ 12-under semifinals of the Philippine Sports Commission-Philippine Tennis Association Age-Group Tennis Championships at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Eala blanked Martin with a variety of shots in the opening set then dropped just one game in the next to complete the one-sided triumph.

No. 4 Bettine Bautista, on the other hand, fended off Erika Manalo, 6-1, 6-3, to reach the semifinals against the winner between top seed Kristin Salimbangon and Gia Sagandoy in the other quarters match in the event sponsored by PSC and Philta with Dunlop Fort as the official ball.

Marcel Gonzales also breezed through the semifinals of the boys’ 16-and-under class with a 6-3, 6-3 romp over No. 7 Jose Cano while Betto Orendain shocked fourth seed Kyle Joseph, 7-6(4), 6-1, to clinch the first semifinal seat in the lower bracket of the week-long event which stakes ranking points.

Second seed Emmanuel Vacallares, meanwhile, rolled back Alquin Flores, 6-3, 6-2, to set up a semifinal clash with No. 4 Godfrey Seno.