Estanislao leads march of favorites

Daniel Estanislao III and Miguel Luis Vicencio cruised into the quarterfinal round of the boys’ 12-and-under play by downing their respective rivals in the First Gen Juntaphil Metro Age Group Tennis Championship at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa yesterday.

Estanislao dropped just two games to bundle out Sam Nuguit, 6-1, 6-1, and arrange a Last 8 clash with fifth ranked Marc Andrei Jarata, who posted an impressive 6-0, 6-0 rout of Kidlat Estogero, while Vicencio likewise churned out a shutout 6-0, 6-0 romp over Luis Salvacion in the lower half of the draw.

Vicencio will take on Rafael Liangco next after the No. 7 bet got past Marcus Gnilo, 6-1, 6-0, while third seed Rupert Tortal held off Wesley Bos in the opening set before pulling off a 6-4, 6-0 win for a quarters duel with No. 6 Edgardo Angara, who survived Jude Hidalgo, 6-1, 4-6, 10-3, in the annual tournament co-presented by the First Gen Corp. headed by Francis Giles Puno and sponsored by Smart Communications.

No. 4 Sebastien Lhuillier also came away with an emphatic 6-0, 6-1 victory over Mico Castillo but will have his hands full in his chase for a semis berth against No. 8 Diego Dayrit, who dominated Prince Salvacion 6-1, 6-0, in the event organized by Juntaphil led by president Edward Puno with Technifibre as the official ball and Caloy Creer as tournament referee.

Top seed Arthur Craig Pantino and No. 3 Jed Justin Labasano also coasted to the quarters of the boys’ 14-U section with the former whipping Francis dela Rosa, 6-0, 6-0.