Cruz, Matta boost bids in Toby’s netfest

MANILA, Philippines - James Rohan Cruz and Amelie Matta came away with emphatic victories to advance to the next round of the 10-under unisex division of the Toby’s-Prince Tennis Festival 2013 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Cruz trounced Justine So, 4-1, 4-2, while Matta routed Ruth Esther Demafelus, 4-0, 4-2, to lead the other winners in the weeklong tournament presented by Toby’s Sports and Prince.

Noelle So downed Ma. Katrina Cuaresma, 4-1, 4-1; Elijah Morr Guillermo turned back Alfred Doloroso, 5-3, 3-5, 10-8; and Joaquin de Leon eked out a 5-4, 2-4, 10-8 win over Kryshana Brazal.

In the 14-under girls’ section, Annika Mallari bested Marielle So, 6-4, 6-3, and Chloe Mae Saraza blanked Mae Juris Garceron, 6-0, 6-0, as they joined Camille So and Kristine Martin, who won via default over Alexis Bangayan and Anne Danielle Rumbines, respectively, in the next phase of the tournament held in cooperation with the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta), Equipe, Adidas, Lonsdale, Kangaroos and UrbanAthletics.

In the non-ranking section for 12-under boys, Joseph Gregg Illo beat Albert Inocencio Lesaca, 8-5; Vincent Tenorio waylaid Daniel Vonn Montejo, 8-0; Laurenz Quitara blasted Hamza Omar, 8-0; Antonio Relucio survived Marc Andrei Bascara, 8-7 (10-8); and Andrew Gil Garcia held off Jose Tomas Bernardo, 8-5.

Also in the 10-under unisex, Miguel Luis Vicencio waylaid Shant Raven, 4-1, 4-0; Juan Alfonso Lacuna overpowered Jude Hidalgo, 4-1, 4-0; Nicos Ison overcame Adam Sujica, 4-2, 5-4, 7-2; Rafael Liangco turned back James Rohan Cruz, 4-2, 4-1; and Eurydice Gaspar blanked Samuel Reani Nuguit, 4-0, 4-0.

A total of 600 tennis age-groupers are competing in the 18-under, 16-under, 14-under and 12-under and 10-under divisions.