Siso siblings sparkle in Gullas Cup

CEBU, Philippines -Bernardine "Niño" Siso made his final appearance in the Gullas Cup a memorable one as he pummeled Dan Aldred Cinco, 6-4, 6-4 to win the boys 18-under title of the biggest and longest-run tennis tournament in the Vis-Min region yesterday at the Cebu Country Club.

Niño Siso started playing in the Gullas Cup when he was only 10 years old.

“I sensed that he's (Cinco) already tired but I don’t know what happened to me. Instead of finishing the game right away, I let him do his thing. I’m just lucky I was able to get back and win this title for the last time,” said Siso.

Siso’s victory in the boys 18-under completed his trophy collection in the Gullas Cup, from the unisex 10-under to the boys 12, 14 and 16 class.

Interestingly, the Gullas Cup is the only age-group tournament Siso joined this summer as he is busy with his studies as a nursing student at the University of San Carlos.

For Siso, the Gullas Cup is a tournament that should not be missed because it helped a player like himimprove his rankings in the country’s governing body of tennis, the Philippne Lawn Tennis Association (PHILTA) which awardspoints for the top performers being a Group 2 event.

Niño's younger sister Sally Mae stole part of the spotlight as she claimed a double victory. Afterwinning the doubles event, Sally Mae bagged the girls 18-under gold after a 6-0, 6-0 shutout of Christine Belleta.

Sally Mae’s doubles partner Hannah Grace Espinosa also posted a twinkill after defeating Mary Claire Lazaga, 6-2, 6-3. Ditto with Crissiane Issa Kintanar, Mark Suson and Jan Godfrey Seno.

Kintanar survived a long and tiring final match in the girls 14-under against Jana Pages, 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 10-5.

 Seno outsmarted Arthur Craig Pantino, 6-4, 6-3 to go home with the boys 12 crown, while Suson topped the unisex 10-under after edging out Earcullin Maxilom, 6-1,6-4.

Alexie Santos made sure she woudn’t go home empty-handed by fending off Alyssa Mae Bornia, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 to grab the girls 12 tiara.

Joshua Kinaadman emerged victorious in the boys 14 category after taming Justin Asilo, 6-4,6-0 while Francis Parangan captured the boys 16 plum at the expense of John Necesario,6-3,6-4. (FREEMAN)