Iglupas, 3 other PH bets prevail

Top seed Khim Iglupas overpowered Aussie Gabriela Sprague, 6-3, 6-1, to roll into the girls’ second round of 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 a variety of powerful shots to arrange 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, 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 to ease out India’s Shehal Mane, 6-1, 6-0.

Maria Dominique Ong and Maia Bernadette Balce also posted straightset 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 was hardly challenged in a 6-1, 6-1 win over Alvina Lai, also of Hong Kong.

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.

Meanwhile, Stefan Suarez, Cenon Gonzales Jr., Marcen Gonzales, Betto Orendain, Dave Mendoza and Bryan Decasa were all set to vie for spots in the second round in the boys’ division, also at presstime.