MANILA, Philippines - Juvan Divinagracia bucked the heat and overcame Rommel Opiniano, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2, to advance to the second leg of the Johnny Arcilla Tennis Circuit at BF Almanza, Las Piñas yesterday.
Divinagracia, 30, pounced on the younger Opiniano, protégée of Hatta Dimaporo, United Tennis Players of the Philippines’s founding chairman, in the third set to pound out the victory.
“I was really tired in the third set and I felt I would lose,” said Divinagracia. “But when he started making errors, I took advantage of the situation.”
In other results, Rolando Ruel defeated Victor Torres, 6-0, 6-0; Johnny Arcilla downed Jesse Lapore, 6-2, 6-2; Jamie Solon beat Lolito Abadia, 6-2, 6-2; Antonio Sagansay disposed of Christian Tiongko, 6-0, 3-1-Ret.; Kim Ivor Saraza thumped Rollie Anasta, 6-2, 6-2; Ralph Kevin Barte cruised past Ofel Isadore Lasconia, 6-1, 6-0;
Arven Ruel tripped Joel Magueis, 6-1, 4-1-Ret.; and Alexander Lazaro dominated Joel Palao, 6-2, 6-2.
The event is organized by UTPP and sponsored by Herbalife, Sports Spray and Babolat.