Bliss Bayking toppled second seed Paula Uy, 4-2, 5-4(1), to barge into the quarterfinals of the girls’ 16-and-under division of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Valle Verde Country Club National Age-Group tennis tournament dominated by the seeded bets at the VVCC indoor and outdoor tennis courts in Pasig City yesterday.
No. 1 Anna De Myer rolled past Sabina Favis to arrange a Last 8 duel with Elise Cruz, who outlasted Katherine Mercado, 5-4(7), 1-4, 10-8; third seed Justine Maneja clobbered Nina Sandejas, 4-0, 4-1, for a clash with Patricia Lim, who subdued Kaye Emana, 5-4(4), 4-2; No. 4 Kryshana Brazal whipped Lila Salvacion, 4-0, 4-2, to seal a showdown with Ma. Beatriz Cruz, who ripped Franchezka Malaki, 4-2, 4-0, while eighth-ranked Macie Carlos crushed Chelsea Roque, 4-0, 4-1, for a faceoff with Bayking, one of the leading players from San Carlos City.
Renee Esteban, meanwhile, scored a walkover win over top seed Bea Acena from Ilocos, who failed to make it to the event due to inclement weather, to join the other big guns in the quarters of the premier 18-U side of the Group I tournament presented by Dunlop and sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro. She will next face No. 8 Francesca Cruz, who repulsed Lim, 3-5, 4-1, 10-8.
Others who advanced were No. 4 Danna Abad, who trounced Gabrielle Sandejas, 4-1, 4-1; Dominique Malazarte, who ousted Salvacion, 4-0, 4-1; sixth ranked Carlyn Guarde, who survived Bayking, 4-2, 2-4, 10-7; No. 3 Denise Bernardo, who smothered Katherine Mercado, 4-0, 4-1; Beatrice Gomez, who upended Tiffany Roque, 4-5(7), 4-2, 10-4; and and De Myer, who came away with a 1-0 (ret.) win over Sophia Ochoa.
The favorites also romped off with convincing wins in the boys’ side of the event that drew top and rising junior players Sultan Kudarat, Davao, San Carlos City, Los Baños, Ilocos, Lucena, Quezon City, Rizal, Pangasinan, Dumaguete, Agoo, La Union, Lipa, Cavite, Malabon, Cainta and Manila.
No. 3 Loucas Fernandez overpowered Exequiel Jucutan, 6-1, 6-2, to clinch the first semis spot in the 18-U side with top seed Vince Tugade, Marco Macalintal, fifth seed Elvin Geluz, No. 4 Wilfred Bentillo, eighth-ranked Ibarra Ortega and second seed Athan Arejola all seeking to join him in the Final Four at press time.
Unranked Stephen Catipon and No. 7 Edgardo Angara, meanwhile, took the first two berths in the 16-U quarters with the former beating Renzo Castro, 5-4(2), 4-2, and the latter blasting Asher Patrimonio, 4-0, 4-0, in the tournament hosted by the Valle Verde Country Club headed by Unified Tennis Philippines OIC Richie Lozada and officers and members of VVCC.
All nine categories feature 32-players draws underscoring the big number of entries vying in the PPS-PEPP circuit backed by Asiatraders Corp. and sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.
Next up are the PPS Manila Polo Club and the Olivarez Cup. For details, call PPS-PEPP Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.