Nguyen rolls past Oquendo in First Gen

MANILA, Philippines - Tamitha Nguyen sustained her top form in the First Gen Juntaphil Metro Age Group Tennis Championships, beating Alexis Oquendo, 6-0, 6-1, to roll into the quarterfinal round of the 16-under division at the Olivarez Tennis Center’s hard court in Sucat yesterday.

The victory set up Nguyen, the top seeded daughter of former national player Edna Olivarez, for a quarterfinal showdown with No. 8 Joana Carnay, who struggled past Nicole Eugenio, 6-2, 4-6 (10-6), in the other match in the upper bracket.

Also advancing in the event, a Group I tournament presented by First Gen Corporation and sponsored by Smart Communications, are Kriselle Sampatron and No. 6 Akiko de Guzman while eight others, including second seed Marinel Rudas and No. 3 Shannine Olivarez, are still chasing the other QF berths at presstime.

Sampatron posted a big upset over No. 4 Ann Castillo, 6-2, 7-5, while De Guzman whipped Yana Versoza, 6-1, 6-1.

Nguyen, one of the country’s top junior netters, is also the top seed in the 18-under class and is set to face Louise Lopez in the quarterfinal round in the premier division late yesterday. Others seeking semis spots in the event, organized by Juntaphil and backed by Pet One, RCBC, Sole Footbeds and Pepsi, are No. 4 Jasmine Tan Ho, Akiko de Guzman, Eugenio, Shannin Olivarez, Macy Gonzales and Rudas.

Meanwhile, top ranked Arjohn dela Cruz also romped off with a 6-0, 6-2 rout of Ronald Roces to likewise advance to the quarters of the 16-under category while fighting for berths in the last 8 at presstime are Argil Canizares, Tim Becker, Marcen Gonzales, third ranked Romnee Joseph and Matthew Torres.

Eric Olivarez Jr., the top ranked player in the 14-under division, also coasted to the last 16 in the 12-under, blanking Manuel Balce III, 6-0, 6-0, to set up a duel against the winner of the Aldriene Vivo and Neil Puche match.

Others who advanced in the 12-under boys class were Jerome Romualdez, No. 8 Tomas Puno, No. 4 Joel Atienza, Jabs Barcenas, Cenon Gonzales, No. 6 Julian Dayrit, No. 7 Arthur Pantino, No. 5 Brysl Libao and Vincent Alanis.