Banez cops 18-under title in Baguio leg

MANILA, Philippines - Monika Banez recorded her first big win in a young career, overwhelming Chelsea Tamayo, 6-1, 6-0, to capture the girls’ 18 and-under crown in the Baguio Junior Tennis Championships at the Baguio Tennis Club in Baguio yesterday.

The top-seeded Banez, who struggled past Mirriam Tumapang, 6-3, 7-5, to reach the finals of the premier class, dominated Tamayo from start to finish to fashion out the one-sided victory and lead the winners in the Group 2 event organized by the Junior Tennis Association of the Philippines.

The 16-year-old Banez, a senior at St. Paul’s Pasig, is also eyeing the 21-U crown in the week-long event, sponsored by First Gen Corp. and Smart Communications and serving as the first of two tournaments lined up by Juntaphil this summer.

Third seed Andrea Amistad, who stunned top seed Ma. Dominique Ong, 6-3, 6-1, in the semifinal round, likewise pulled off a straight-set 6-4, 6-1 victory over Monica Cortez to annex the 14-U diadem while Gia Sagandoy copped the 12-U title with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Jovi Anne Macaraeg.

Karl Miguel, who upset top seed Enrique Jugo, 6-4, 6-0, in the semis, took the 10-unisex crown with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Mia So.

In other results, No. 1 Jacob Martin routed Jugo, 6-0, 6-0, to lead the semifinalists in the boys’ 12-U class along with Marcus del Rosario, who held off Jay Estacio, 7-5, 6-0; Marraphael Teng, who downed Miguel, 6-1, 6-4; and Jonas Silva, who shocked second seed Enrico Ong, 6-2, 6-3.

Top seed Kyle Joseph rolled to the semis of the 18-U class with a 6-0, 6-1 rout of Jerome Silva for a clash with Angelo Gonzales, who beat Christian San Andres, 6-4, 6-2; while Enrique Ferrer survived Prince Salvacion, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, to clinch the third semis seat.

Neil Tangalin surprised top seed Jerome Romualdez, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5, to barge into the semis of the 14-U category with Joshua de Guzman, who turned back Carlos Penafiel, 5-7, 7-6, 6-1; Cenon Gonzales Jr., who stopped Martin, 7-6(2), 6-3; and Joel Atienza, who blanked Miguel Mejia, 6-0, 6-0.