Agustin, Asilo lead First Gen winners

Manila, Philippines - Billy Agustin scrambled past Mohamad Amerol, 7-5, 6-4, while Jet Asilo coasted to a 6-0, 6-0 romp over Arthur Saulong in the boys’ 14-under division of the fourth First Gen/Juntaphil Metro Age Group tennis tournament which got under way yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

With fancied Christian San Andres and Daniel Villaseñor drawing opening day byes as the top two seeds, the other hopefuls in the 64-player field worked out a sweat under sweltering heat with Vincent Anida beating Jose Mapa, 6-3, 6-2, Cenon Gonzales thumping Ferdinand Alarilla, 6-1, 6-0, and Arkane Cordova downing Carl Abadilla, 6-2, 6-2, in the upper half of the draw.

Patricia Corporal, meanwhile, subdued Kyrene Espedido, 6-3, 6-0, to set up a second clash with top seed Michael Eala in the 10-unisex category of the event presented by First Gen Corp. and sponsored by Smart Communications.

Eala is eyeing a second straight plum after repulsing Marcus del Rosario, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-0, in last Sunday’s finals of the Juntaphil Cup in Baguio City.

Also advancing in the 10-unisex class of the tournament organized by the Junior Tennis Association of the Phl., sanctioned by Philta and backed by Technifibre are Joseph Anida, Enrique Jugo, Jan Trillanes, Pete Coteron, Hiromasa Ishikawa, Aljohn Talatayod and Tim Gumban.

Anida overwhelmed Miguel Vicencio, 6-0, 6-1; Jugo outplayed Maxine Martin, 6-0, 6-1; Trillanes dominated Anna de Myer, 6-1, 6-1; Coteron whipped Cindy Nuguit, 6-3, 6-0; Ishikawa hurdled Mia So, 6-2, 6-1; and Talatayod and Gumban posted a pair of 6-0, 6-0 wins over Carlos Belludo and Amanda Zoleta, respectively.

Early results in the premier boys’ 18-under division saw Mico Navarro pulling off a 7-6(3), 6-1 win over Vince Gumban to arrange a second round clash with top seed Dheo Talatayod while LA Canizares scoring a walkover win over Justin Vinas for a duel with second seed Betto Orendain in the lower bracket of the 32-player draw.

Other events on tap in the seven-day tournament featuring the country’s leading and upcoming junior players are the girls’ 12-, 14, 16- and 18-under categories as well as the 10-unisex, 14- and 18-under doubles events for boys and girls.