CEBU, Philippines – Two Cebuanas and an out-of-town player from Palawan made up the first batch of semifinalists in the girls 12-under division of the 14th Gullas Cup Tennis tournament at the Baseline Tennis Center.
They are Athena Montecillo of Tuburan, Mary Tuñacao of Lapu-Lapu City, and the top-ranked Alexie Santos of Palawan.
Santos motored into the penultimate round with relative ease, wiping out Zetchley Mae Alferez in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.
Montecillo blasted off Shane Villareal, 6-0, 6-2, while Tuñacao also advanced after dispatching fellow Cebuana Maria Sheena Camporedondo, 6-1, 6-3.
Tuñacao will face next the winner between second seed Crizziane Issa Kintanar and Chriszalle Castro for a final berth.
On the other hand, Elna Dacian dumped Mary Claire Lasaga ,6-1, 6-1, while Glory Faith Bohol trounced Jerian Campo,6-3, 6-3 to barge into the second round.
Over at the Cebu Country Club, the multi-titled Nino Siso handily dismantled Ruyn Honoridez, 6-0, 6-0 to proceed to round two in the boys 16-under classification.
The other winners in the second round under the 16-under class were Joseph Tallo, Harvey Sinculan, Dan Cinco, John Arnel Go, and Mark Bienes.
Tallo demolished Eldan Magallanes, 6-1, 6-2, Sinculan subdued Danny Dwight Largo, 6-1,6-2, Cinco routed Clyde Bienes, 6-0, 6-1, Go crushed Nove Maxilom, 6-1,6-2, and Bienes overwhelmed Ardel Edanio, 6-0, 6-0.
In the boys 12-under of this PHILTA Group 2 event sponsored by Babolat, Anthony Prada, Arthur Pantino, and Jason Lauron breezed through the quarterfinals.
Prada pinned down Louie Mendez, 6-2, 6-3, Pantino whipped Christian Ugarte, 6-0, 6-3, and Lauron elbowed out Nicolas Lorenzo, 6-1, 6-1. – THE FREEMAN