PSC-Philta age-group tilt unwraps today

MANILA, Philippines - Matches in six divisions kick off hostilities in the Philippine Sports Commission-Philippine Tennis Association Age-Group Tennis Championships today with top seed Nico Eala and No. 2 Juan Miguel Jugo looking for a big start in the 10-unisex class at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Eala, who has dominated a number of age-groupers in a busy season about to end, faces Javier Bolong while Jugo takes on Genesis Abadia in the 9 a.m. opener of a hectic day featuring the country’s leading junior players and rising stars vying in various age divisions.

Third seed Nio Tria collides with Adam Sujica while No. 4 Alexandra Eala squares off with Karl Carasa in the other 10-unisex matches in the Group I event put up by the PSC and Philta with Dunlop Fort as the official ball.

With 18-and-under boys’ top seed Dave Mosqueda and No. 2 Joshua Cano taking opening round byes, focus will be on the likes of Ralph Juliane and Daniel Um, who clash in the upper bracket along with Jerome Romualdez and Josh Sangueza while Andre Rodriguez and Gio Chakas tangle in the lower half along with Jammie Dela Paz and Samuel Bayna.

Second seed Maia Balce opens her bid in the girls’ 16-U against Charito Capadocia while No. 3 Nicole Amistad faces Monika Cruz, No. 4 Khim Iglupas takes on Samantha Um and Ma. Dominique Ong mixes it up with Samantha Villar.

Blanche Lagrisola collides with Bianca Catoto, Mikaela Vicencio takes on Camille So and Monika Cruz and Gia Sagandoy face-off in three of the featured matches in the girls’ 14-U class of the event.

Fierce battle is also seen in the boys’ 16-U with top seed Marcen Gonzales testing the mettle of Josh Sangueza and No. 2 Dave Mosqueda battling Alquin Flores. Other matches pit No. 3 Stefan Suarez vs Chris Prulla, No. 4 Kyle Joseph against Ian Maglipac, fifth seed Jeremiah Latorre vs Dave Ilustre and No. 6 Andrew Cano vs Edward Biag.