Toby's Age Group Tournament

Barte, Saraza, Santiago big tennis victors

Inquirer
Last updated 02:10am (Mla time) 05/15/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Top seeds Ralf Kevin Barte and Kim Ivor Saraza and a 13-year-old from Olongapo City emerged as the biggest winners in the 6th annual Toby’s Philta Age-Group Championships that ended last Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The 18-year-old Barte took the first and only game of the match in bagging the boys’ 18-and-under title over third seed El Santo Santos, who retired due to an eye injury.

Saraza was broken only once in trouncing sixth seed Pemrick Alina, 6-2, 6-4, to rule the boy’s 16-under class of the event held in cooperation with the Philippine Tennis Association and the Futures Foundation.

Barte’s serve grazed Santos’ right eye in the very first game, leaving him writhing in pain. After ascertaining that Santos could not resume play, the umpire awarded the match to Barte.

“He was in pain and I’m sorry the championship match had to end that way,” said Barte from Davao City.

Tim Polero, John Maveric Ribaya, Vince Salas, Mark Ramos and Jeremiah Macias II also dominated their respective divisions.

The top-seeded Polero survived younger brother Kim in three sets, 7-6, 1-6, 6-4, to cop the boy’s 14-under crown; second-ranked Ribaya foiled No. 1 Jacob Lagman, 6-4, 6-2, in the boy’s 12-under final; top seed Salas overcame No. 3 Vince Mark Tabo Tabo, 7-5, 0-6, 6-4, to win the unisex 10-under title; Ramos nipped Patrick Mangasing, 8-1, for the boy’s 12-under championship, and Macias downed John Paolo Vestidas, 8-5, to top the boy’s 16-under non-ranking unisex class.

Maria Regina Santiago, a 13-year-old campaigner from Olongapo City, captured the girls’ 18-under and 16-under division to share the limelight with Barte and Saraza.

Santiago, an incoming third year high school student at St. Joseph College, bested Jasmine Ho, 6-3, 6-3, to rule the girl’s 18-under. She returned to overpower sixth seed Mary Grace Rivero, 6-1, 6-2, for the girl’s 16-under crown.

The other winners in girls’ play were Louise Alexandra Lopez of Wood Rose School and Erica Lagura, a 10-year-old sensation from Batac, Ilocos Norte.

The 13-year-old Lopez beat Macy Gonzales, 7-5, 6-0, and ruled the 14-under division while Lagura stunned fifth seed Crizztabelle Paulino, 6-2, 6-2, for the 12-under plum.

Top Toby’s Sports officials led by president and GM Jose Claudio Jr. and operations manager Toby Claudio and event organizer Jean Agra attended the closing rites.

by Marlon Bernardino, contributor

	Author	Topic: Toby's Age Group Tournament (Read 842 times)
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