Del Rosario, Eala forge title duel

MANILA, Philippines - Mico Eala and Marcus del Rosario played true to form and trampled their respective semifinal rivals to arrange a dream clash for the unisex 10-under crown in the second PSC/Philta age group tennis championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

The top-seeded Eala, coming off a 6-0, 6-0 rout of Juan Jugo in the quarters, swampled Aljohn Talatayod, 6-1, 6-0, with the nine-year-old find from Xavier School poised to firm up his claim as the country’s top kiddie netter.

But he will be as much tested as second seed del Rosario, who scored an equally convincing 6-2, 6-1 romp over No. 4 Maverick Legaspi with the 10-year-old talent from Theresiana Dame School going all out to snatch the crown in today’s finals of the week-long tournament which stakes ranking points and sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Marian Jade Capadocia and Ma. Angela Sunga likewise set up a clash of the fancied bets in the girls’ U-18 after the former held off Roxanne Resma, 6-1, 6-4, and the latter disposing of Isabella Mendoza, 6-3, 6-0.

Capadocia and Sunga also lined themselves up for a title showdown in the U-16 class as they beat Nicole Paez, 6-0. 6-0, and Nicole Amistad, 6-2, 6-2, to advance to the semis.

Capadocia will take on Resma, who defeated Erika Manduriao, 6-0, 6-1, while Sunga will square off with Jade Charito Capadocia, who won by default over Maia Balce.

Meanwhile, Amistad, 13, and playing out of Tuguegarao West Central, bundled out Frances Angela Santiago, 6-1, 6-2, to reach the semis of the U-14. She, however, faces top seed Erika Manduriao for a crack at the finals of the event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission through commissioner Buddy Andrada.

Also advancing to the semis are Chrislyn Sioson, Monika Cruz, Rafaela Villanueva and Santiago (U-12), and Miguel del Rosario, Marcus del Rosario, Arthur Pantino and Norman Gaspar (boys’ U-12).

Miguel del Rosario of Theresiana Dame School beat No. 8 Adrian de Hertogh, 6-3, 6-3. He will take on younger brother Marcus, who defeated Enrico Luis Ong, 6-1, 6-2.

Pantino blanked Sohaimen Mama, 6-0, 6-0, to arrange a semis duel in the lower half of the draw against Gaspar, who stunned No. 2 Eala, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.