Milo junior tennis cup Lambayan, Pepito claim tickets to national finals

CEBU, Philippines - Francis Lambayan and Nonito John Pepito are the first two players to qualify to this year’s Milo Junior Tennis Cup National finals after ruling their respective classes in the Visayas leg at CITCI-Consolacion Tennis courts in Laray Consolacion yesterday.

The top seeded Lambayan claimed the boys’12 regional title after defeating Rey Dante Toledo via a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

The final battle lasted for an hour and 15 minutes before Lambayan prevailed.

Moments later, Pepito won the unisex 10-under title after he upset top seed Vince Lominoque, 7-6 (8-6), 6-1.

Lominoque ran out of gas early in the second set not only after dealing a tough game in the initial set, but as he still played his semifinal assignment earlier as compared to the well-rested Pepito.

On the other hand, John Godfrey Seno meets San Beda’s Elijah Arevalo in the boys’14-under finals today after defeating separate opponents in the penultimate round.

Seno posted a 6-1, 6-1 win against Manuel Francis Navales while Arevalo won against teammate Andre Rodriguez via retirement.

Another San Beda tennister, Pocholo Macalino also advanced to the final round after dismissing second seed, Jarryd Laurel, 6-0, 6-1 in the boys’16 action.

Macalino, however, missed a double finals appearance after losing to Marc Norman Enriquez in the boys’ 18 semifinal via super tie-break, 6-3, 7-6, 10-4.

Enriquez will be facing Fritz Satera in the finals. Satera won against Rap-Rap Juliane, 6-2,6-3.

In the distaff side, Allysa Mae Bornia advanced to the girls’14 finals after outsmarting Zethley Mae Alferez, 6-3, 7-5.

In the girls’18 class, it’s Sally Mae Siso versus Hannah Grace Espinosa in the final match.

Siso clobbered Cristine Bellita, 6-0, 6-0 while Espinosa slapped Edel Donaire with a 6-2, 6-0 win in the penultimate round.

Aside from some of the singles event championship matches, this Wilson-supported PHILTA-sanctioned and Children Tennis Workshop-organized event will also have the doubles competition.

The top performers of this event will represent the Visayas region in the Milo National Junior Tennis Cup National finals in Manila set later this year. - THE FREEMAN