Saraza stuns Ong, reaches quarterfinal

MANILA, Philippines - Chloe Mae Saraza withstood Ma. Dominique Ong’s fightback in the second set and hacked out a 6-1, 7-6(2) victory to barge into the Last 8 of the girls’ 16-and-under singles in the 24th Andrada Cup tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Courts yesterday.

The unranked Saraza dominated the sixth-seeded Ong in the opener but struggled in the next, needing to come up with big shots in the tiebreaker to pound out the victory and seal a quarters showdown with Nicole Amistad.

The third-ranked Amistad also survived a first-set scare and went on to defeat Bianca Cruz, 7-5, 6-3, and stay in the hunt in the tournament sponsored by Dunlop Fort All Court Balls, Philippine Sports Commission, First Solid Group, St. Luke’s Medical Center and Sagip Bayan Foundation.

Others who advanced in the group, headed by top seed Roxanne Resma, were No. 5 Khim Iglupas, who trounced Frances Santiago, 6-2, 6-3; and Angelica Mosqueda and second seed Maia Balce, who scored walkover wins over Colleen Sioson and Princess Nadera, respectively.

Second seed Dave Mosqueda overpowered Jeleardo Amazona, 6-2, 6-2, to advance in the next round of the boys’ 18-and-under class along with Daniel Um, who beat John Cerezo, 6-3, 6-3, and Juan Alfonso Opulencia, who held off Vernon Hibonhua, 7-5, 6-0.

The fancied bets, meanwhile, breezed through the quarters of the girls’ 12-and-under class with top seed Carlyn Bless Guarde and No. 2 Maxine Martin scoring 6-0, 6-0 and 6-4, 6-3 wins over Pearl Pato and Megan Reyes, respectively.

No. 4 Alexandra Eala romped off with a 6-0, 6-1 rout of Anna De Myer, fifth seed Mikaela Vicencio and No. 6 Mia So won by default over Nica Alanis and Miles Vitaliano, respectively, and seventh ranked Gia Sagandoy blasted Li-Jian Thean, 6-1, 6-1.

But third seed Blanche Lagrisola needed to bounce back from a first-set setback to stop Patricia Corporal, 5-7, 6-1 (10-3), and complete the Last 8 cast in the ranking event held in honor of Philippine sports commissioner Buddy Andrada.

In the boys’ 14-and-under class, No. 1 Cenon Gonzales and second seed Emmanuel Vacalares Jr. posted a pair of one-sided victories to stay in title collision course. Gonzales routed Nolan Gagalac, 6-2, 6-1, while Vacalares demolished Rafael Halili, 6-0, 6-1.

No. 7 Bryan Otico also dominated Enrico Ong, 6-1, 6-0, but will have his hands full against Gonzales in the next round of the tournament featuring the country’s leading and rising junior players.