Gonzales, Mosqueda gain in Philta meet

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Marcen Gonzales and No. 2 Dave Mosqueda stormed into the quarterfinal round of the boys’ 16-and-under class with straight-set romps while fancied Roxanne Resma and Erika Manduriao gained in the ladies side of the Philippine Sports Commission-Philippine Tennis Association Age-Group Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Marcen Gonzales whipped Ivan Gonzales, 6-1, 6-0, to set a quarters duel with No. 7 Jose Nicholas Cano, who downed Jeremiah Bayna, 6-3, 6-4, while Mosqueda overpowered Jan Seno, 6-0, 6-2, to move into the Last 8 against Daniel Villaseñor, who blanked Edward Baig, 6-0, 6-0, in the lower half of the draw.

No. 5 Jeremiah Latorre thumped Gio Chakas, 6-2, 6-1, to likewise advance to the quarters along with Betto Orendain, who shut out Emmanuel Vacallares, 6-0, 6-0, and fourth seed Kyle Joseph thwarted Jerome Romualdez, 6-4, 6-3, in the week-long event sponsored by PSC and Philta with Dunlop Fort as the official ball.

Resma, meanwhile, launched her title drive in the girls’ 16-and-under with an emphatic 6-0, 6-0 romp over Bianca Catoto while Manduriao fought back from an opening set setback and survived a thrilling second and third set duels to outlast Mariz Gonzales, 3-6, 7-6(3), 7-5, and reach the Last 8 phase.

Resma also drew an opening round bye in the premier 18-and-U class and will take on Nicole Amistad, who routed Steffi Del Rosario, 6-3, 6-0, for a spot in the semifinals against the winner of the Khim Iglupas-Anne Castillo match.

Iglupas scored a walkover win over Samantha Um while Castillo pulled off a tough 6-4, 7-6(4) win over Isabella Mendoza.

Also advancing to the quarters were Joy Yuen, who held off Mariz Gonzales, 6-2, 6-4, and Ma. Dominique Ong, who beat Samantha Villar, 6-0, 6-1.

Andre Rodriquez became the first player to reach the quarters of the boys’ 18-and-u division as he beat Ivan Gonzales, 6-2, 6-2, with the rest of the survivors still battling it out for Last 8 berths at presstime.

Eleven-year-old Jacob Martin clipped Mimo Tomacruz, 7-5, 6-1, to lead the quarterfinalists in the boys’ 14-and-u class. He will next face Soheimen Mama, who dominated Norman Gaspar, 6-1, 6-3.

Second seed Emmanuel Vacallares repulsed Li Yang Thean, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-0, to arrange a quarters clash with Alquin Flores, who prevailed, 6-4, 3-0(ret.) over John Cerezo.