Palarong Pambansa gold medallist Francis Largo and five others rolled into the semifinal round of the 2008 Milo Age-Group Tennis Championships-Cebu leg at Villa Aurora tennis courts in Brgy. Mabolo, this city.
Tournament topseed Largo easily disposed Leandro Fernandez, 8-3, in the boys 18-under quarterfinals. He will face next Amiel Aya-ay, who advanced with an 8-4 disposition of Raymart Juliani.
Largo is heavily favored to get past Aya-ay and a finals encounter against fellow Palaro medallist Kennex Abadia is highly anticipated by local followers.
In the boys 16-under last eight, the Gerapusco siblings Princeton and Kurt Gerapusco triumphed over separate foes as well as Paulo Cenabre, Jayvee Canoy, Amiel Ayaay, and Christian John Cabahug.
Princeton defeated John Marc Palumag, 6-0,6-2 while his younger brother Kurt kicked away Leonel Hilig, 8-4.
Twin brothers Christian John and Christian Paul Cabahug, however, suffered contrasting fates. Christian John ousted Kristoff Carmona, 8-2, but Christian Paul lost to Ayaay, 7-5, 6-3.
Canoy, for his part, toppled Paul Abendan, 6-2, 6-3, while Cenabre dumped Ian Quirubin,8-5.
Over at the Cebu Country Club, four female netters earned a ‘no-sweat’ entry into the semifinal round as some players backed out. They are Clarrisa Mae Fuentes, Jesamil Singson, Irish Joy Balverde and Samantha Baylosis.
The other action of the day also saw another Palarong Pambansa gold medallist Fritz Satera silencing Ivan Casanillo, 8-1, to barge into the boys 14-under quarterfinals.
Satera was joined into the next round by Clyde Dale Bienes, Francis Parangan, Amiel Jay Torion, Mark Jason Chan, Dan Eldric Cinco, and Kim Ayuda.
In the 10-under category, Christopher Encarnacion and Jayson Lauron proceeded into the final eight. – Caecent No-ot Magsumbol