De Guzman trips Manantan in opener

MANILA, Philippines – Palarong Pambansa-bound Akiko de Guzman made her presence felt yesterday in the 8th Toby’s Summer Festival yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center, turning back Aziel Manantan, 6-0,6-1, in the opening round of the 18-under girls bracket.

Around 450 kids showed up to see action in the weeklong netfest presented by Toby’s Sports and Prince racquets, and sponsored by Equipe, Polar Heart Rate Monitor, Thermos, Kontrol USA, Philta and Futures Tennis Foundation, and Action & Fitness Magazine.

“Her matches here will serve as a tune-up for her campaign in the Palarong Pambansa next week,” said her coach-father Ferdie de Guzman, a former national judo player who won bronze medals in the 1987 and 1989 Southeast Asian Games.

In the 10-under unisex matches, unheralded Cenon Gonzales foiled the stint of former Davis Cupper Raymund Suarez’s son Justin with a 6-3 6-3 win.

Gonzales joined nine-year old Bianca Ann Cruz in advancing to the quarterfinal round. Cruz, who also advanced to the 12-under girls quarterfinals the other day, stopped Angelo Saunar, 6-1, 6-0.

In other matches, Mario Mabunga prevailed over Jericho Legaspi, 6-0, 6-1, while Ralco de la Paz downed Roberto Azores, 6-1, 6-0 even as Lorenzo de Ocampo edged Joseph Saraza, 7-6(3), 6-1, in the 12-under boys side.

Brend Haft waylaid Joshua Austria, 6-1, 6-1, while Tomas Puno turned back Marinel So, 6-0, 6-0, and Chloe Saraza won by default over Kaye Atienza in other 10-under hostilities.

Jade Charito Capadocia outplayed Frances Santiago, 6-2, 6-4, in the 12-under girls event while Marian Jade Capadocia thwarted Monivic Santos, 6-0, 6-0.