CEBU, Philippines – The dominance of the Siso siblings in local age group tennis again came to light after Sallymae and Sallydine reached the final of the girls’ U18 category in the 2009 Gullas Cup Age-Group Tennis Tournament at the Cebu Country Club.
Sally Mae earned the first final berth after a masterful victory over Cindy Gerapusco 6-3, 6-0 in yesterday’s semifinals. Sallydine showed her younger sister she is up to par by trashing Ann Bienes with a similar 6-3, 6-0 score line.
The siblings play today in their fifth match-up this year. Sallydine holds a 3-1 edge over her younger sister Sallymae but the latter has always been very dangerous.
Sallymae will gun for a double later today as she will play in the championship of the U16 division after blanking Niña Ladera of Zamboanga 6-0, 6-0 in the semis. She will face Cindy Geraspusco, who she beat yesterday in the semifinals of the U16.
Niño, the other Siso playing in the tournament, is also gunning for two titles after marching into the semifinals of the boys’ U16 and U18 categories.
In the U16 semifinals, Niño faces off with John Arnel Go while Christian Paul Cabahug takes on Franklin Encarnacion in the other court.
Nino tackles Anthony Espinosa in the first semifinals of the U18 group while Joel dela Torre awaits the winner of the quarters between Franklin Encarnacion and Lloyd Cañete for his next opponent.
In the other girls’ finals, Espinosa plays Crissianne Kintanar for the U14 title while Alexie Santos and Kintanar battle for the U12 title.
In the boy’s division, Kurt Geraspusco earned a ticket to the U14 championship after winning his semifinal battle with Alexis Ondoy 6-2, 6-0.
The Gullas Family, together with Babolat, are the main sponsors of this PHILTA-sanctioned tournament. – THE FREEMAN