Manduriao bags Girls 18-U crown

SAN Sebastian Stags junior tennis varsity mainstay Erica Manduriao continued her mastery over archrival Ma. Domique Ong of St. Paul’s University-Manila after the former secured another title in the premier age group division of the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Tennis Association’s National Age Group tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila yesterday.

The 15-year-old Manduriao, the no.2 seed, took off with the championship title in the Girls’ 18-Under division as she continued to be an unsolvable puzzle for the top-seeded Ong, beating the latter 6-3, 6-4, in their titular duel in the event backed by Wilson Championship balls.

In the Cebu edition of this tilt, the 2013 Batang Pinoy Bacolod City National Finals-bound Manduriao downed Ong to capture the 18-Under crown then bested Cebuana Jana Pages for the 16-Under title during the 1st leg at the Laray tennis courts in Sitio Laray, Consolacion, Cebu last Nov. 1, 2013.

Ong bounced back with a vengeance in the 2nd leg held at the La Paz Tennis Courts in La Paz, Iloilo City last Nov. 11, 2013 as she bagged the 18-Under and 16-Under titles although Manduriao missed that tournament.

Both players begged off in the 3rd leg at the Montevista Tennis Association’s (Monta) tennis courts in Bacolod City as it was during that time that supertyphoon Yolanda struck.

Manduriao positioned herself for a chance to win her second tournament title as she entered the finals in the Girls 16-Under division by besting Rafaella Villanueva, 6-1, 6-3, in the semifinal round. /Correspondent JADE S. VIOLETA