Iglupas, 3 others gain in Phinma Int’l netfest

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Khim Iglupas overpowered Aussie Gabriela Sprague, 6-3, 6-1, to roll into the second round in girls play in the Phinma-PSC International Juniors Tennis Championships – Week 1 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Iglupas, out to reclaim the crown won by compatriot Jade Capadocia in 2012, dominated Sprague with variety of shots, netting the 16-year-old mainstay of the Philippine Tennis Academy a straight-set and a Last 16 duel against Singapore’s Charmaine Shi Yi Seah, who ousted Hong Kong’s Justine Sophie Kwan Tung Leong, 6-3, 6-2.

Monica Cruz, who defeated American Maria Smith, 6-4, 7-6(4), to emerge the lone Filipina survivor in the two-day qualifier of the event sponsored by the Phinma Group of Companies, Philippine Sports Commission and Mariposa Foundation, sustained her form and eased out India’s Shehal Mane, 6-1, 6-0.

Maria Dominique Ong and Maia Bernadette Balce also posted a pair of straight-set victories to join Iglupas and Cruz in the next round of the Grade 4 ITF (International Tennis Federation) 18-Under category event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association with Dunlop Fort All Court as the official ball.

Ong struggled in the early going but regained her rhythm in time to dispose of Hong Kong’s Hei Ching Claudia Ng, 6-4, 6-1, while Balce flashed superb form to smother Alvina Lai, also of Hong Kong, 6-1, 6-1.

But young Shaira Hope Rivera from Compostela Valley fell short of her bid, dropping a 6-4, 6-4 decision to Thailand’s Parima Leenabanchong while Frances Angelica Santiago also bowed to Japanese Satoko Leung, 6-2, 6-2.

Sixth seed Ayumi Miyamoto, also of Japan, whipped Taiwan’s Han Chi Chen, 6-0, 6-3, while No. 8 Watsachol Sawasdee, also of Thailand, recovered from an opening set setback and repulsed Taiwan’s Ting Chieh Wei, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.