MANILA, Philippines- Nicole Eugenio carved out a shock 7-5, 6-3 victory over second seed Ma. Angela Sunga to barge into the semifinal round of the girls’ 16-under division of the Toby’s-Prince Summer Tennis Festival at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center Friday.
Eugenio’s stirring win came after she battled back from a set down to turn back Maia Balce, 3-6, 6-4, 10-3, in the quarters as she forged a Final Four duel with Khrizelle Sampaton, who scored an abbreviated 6-1, 1-0 Ret. win over Jana Hernandez.
Disputing the other finals berth in the tournament sponsored by Toby’s Sports and Prince were top seed Anne Castillo and Monika Banez, who disposed of Jenni Dizon, 6-4, 6-1, and Samantha Vilar, 6-3, 6-1.
Maribelle Bangayan, meanwhile, scored a walkover win over top seed Marinel Rudas to lead the quarterfinal cast in the premier girls’ 18-under class of the weeklong event backed by Futures Tennis Foundation, Adidas, Nike, Thermos, Equipe, Fruit Magic, SGM Bikes, Mellow Touch 94.7 and Total Fitness.
Others who advanced were Sampaton, who routed Hernandez, 6-0, 6-0; Akiko de Guzman, who held off Sunga, 6-2, 7-5; Samantha Coyiuto, who bested Banez, 6-3, 6-0; and Castillo, Nicole Paez, Bea Ebriega, who all won by default.
Balce, on the other hand, blanked Mariel So, 6-0, 6-0, to cruise to the Last 8 stage of the girls’ 14-under category along with Rafa Villanueva, Camille So, Frances Santiago, Bianco Bongco, Chrislyn Sioson, Alexis Bangayan and the second seeded Dizon.
In the girls’ 12-under class, Therese Cruz followed up her 6-4, 6-3 upset win over top seed Sioson with a 6-1, 6-1 rout of Blanche Lagrisola as she set up a semis duel with Camille So, who ousted Sophia Yap, 6-2, 6-1.