Macie, Liangco gain in Philta Group I meet

MANILA, Philippines - Carlos Macie and Rafael Liangco essayed a pair of straight-set victories to lead the winners in the 10-unisex division of the fourth PSC-Philta age group tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Macie shut down Joaquin De Leon in the opening set but needed to toughen in the next to complete a 6-0, 6-4 victory while Liangco broke Kryshana Brazal once in the first set then dropped just one game in the next for a 6-4, 6-1 romp.

Isabella Mendoza, meanwhile, scored a walkover win over Moira Velicaria in one of the matches in the premier girls’ 18-Under class of the event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by Wilson Championship Extra Duty Balls.

Nineteen other matches are on tap in the opening day of the five-day tournament sanctioned by Philta, a Group I event which stakes ranking points for the country’s leading juniors and rising stars.

Tipped to clash for the boys’ 18-U title are Betto Orendain, Stefan Suarez, Joachim Samson, Jeleardo Amazona, Jerome Romualdez and Cenon Gonzales with Amazona also leading the last in the 16-U category along with Stephan Lhuillier, Mike Mina, Matthew Mina, John Paul Dolores and Adrian Encanares.

Playing at presstime are Thomas Bernardo and Julia Ignacio in the 10-unisex, and Angelo Aparte-Joshua Anida and Jude Hidalgo-Matthew Cuaresma in the boys’ 12-U class of the tournament held in honor of Philippine Sports commissioner Buddy Andrada.

 As Group I event, the winners will earn 200 ranking points with the runners-up gaining 150 points.