Santiago, two others gain in Andrada Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Frances Angela Santiago hung tough in the second set to hack out a 6-3, 7-6(2) victory over Samantha Um while Chloe Mae Saraza and Monica Therese Cruz scored walkover wins at the start of the 24th Andrada Cup tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Courts yesterday.

Santiago took control early with her baseline game but had to toughen up in the second frame to complete the straight-set win and set up a second round duel with fifth seed Khim Iglupas, who drew a first-round bye along with the other seeded bets in the girls’ 16-and-under class, including No. 1 Roxanne Resma, second seed Maia Balce, No. 3 Nicole Amistad and fourth-ranked Isabelle Orteza.

Cruz and Saraza, meanwhile, hope to buck the odds when they resume their campaign tomorrow after default wins over Ysay Jardelesa and Kathrine Manuela, respectively, against No. 6 Ma. Dominique Ong and Resma, respectively.

Joseph Michael Abellanosa, meanwhile, defeated Ivan Lazaro, 6-4, 6-3, Vincent Alanis trounced Edward Choy, 6-3, 6-1, and Jose Nicholas Cano turned back Marc Agner, 7-6(4), 6-1, to lead the early winners in the boys’ 18-and-under class of the weeklong event sponsored by Dunlop Fort All Court Balls, Philippine Sports Commission, First Solid Group, St. Luke’s Medical Center and Sagip Bayan Foundation.

In other results, Devie Pearl Patoc subdued Julia Mae Co, 7-5, 6-3, Patricia Corporal dominated Nadine Ramirez, 6-1, 6-0, and Megan Reyes overpowered Maria Patricia Lim, 6-2, 6-0, in the girls’ 12-and-under of the ranking tournament held in honor of Philippine sports commissioner Buddy Andrada.

Lorenzo Suares and Jules Lazaro likewise came away with a pair of lopsided wins over Marvin Espina, 6-3, 6-0, and Adam Sujica, 6-1, 6-0, in the boys’ 12-U while Miguel Buenaventura toppled Joseph Gadon, 6-3, 6-3, and Lance Matthew Sy won by default over Joseph Anida in the boys’ 14-U category.

Rainier Angelo Selmar beat Justin Maneja, 6-3, 6-0, and Rafael Tomblin outclassed Cristine Joy Bautista, 6-0, 6-1, in the 10-unisex side of the event.

Others who advanced were Julius Cesar Gonzales, Alfred Doloroso, Daniel Estanislao, Chrislie Joyce Bautista, Jose Thomas Bernardo and Jan Harold Trillanes.

Gonzales whipped Kryshana Brazal, 6-1, 6-1, Doloroso and Estanislao won by default over Miles Vitaliano, Marvin Espina and Kian Cachuela, respectively

Bernardo held off Edgardo Angara, 6-3, 6-3, and Trillanes repulsed Angelo Aparte in a thrilling 7-5, 7-5 win.