Manila: Palarong Pambansa qualifier Noel Andre Zachary Zoleta marched to the boys' U12 quarterfinal on Friday in the Bagong Pilipinas Age Group Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila. The No. 2 seed from Lucena City defeated Francis Antonio Angeles, 6-4, 6-3, to advance against No. 7 Raven Matthew De Guzman, who whipped Lucca Bavin Ong, 6-0, 6-1.
According to Philippines News Agency, the 11-year-old Zoleta will compete in the Palarong Pambansa scheduled on May 24-31 in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. Meanwhile, No. 3 Rafael Benigno Cablitas downed Jeffey Ippei Tsoi, 6-3, 6-2, and No. 5 Raven Licayan demolished Vash Argamosa, 6-0, 6-0, to also secure quarterfinal slots.
Cablitas will battle No. 6 Matias Aguilera, who won over Angelo Vincent Flavier, 6-1, 6-4, while Licayan will meet Carlo Renzo Milan, who walked over Maximus Calingasan.
In the girls' U14 category, No. 6 Maria Teresinha Calingasan and No. 8 Jaynelle Dania Mae Castro registered hard-earned victories to reach the Last 8. Calingasan struggled past Isabella Carlos, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (2), to advance against No. 4 Athena Zhia Liwag, who drubbed Alexandra Tsao, 6-1, 6-0.
Castro survived Megumi Tsoi, 6-4, 2-6 (10-6) to advance against No. 2 Leanne Amanda Barrido, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Amara Brenna Paulino.
