Unranked Basco trips Japanese, gains semis

Unseeded Michael Adrian Basco scored a 6-3, 6-4 upset win over sixth seed Japanese Ryoken Matsui yesterday to reach the boys’ singles semifinals of the Enervon Tablet-Futures Foundation International Juniors Tennis Championships at the Ynares Socio-Cultural Sports Center in Pasig City.

Basco became the only Filipino in the Final Four after seventh seed Taiwanese Lin Wei-Ting eliminated top seed Laurence Magaway, 6-4, 6-3, fourth seed Korean Lim Hyung-Joon defeated Miguel Lorenzo Narvaez, 6-3, 6-2, and third seed Korean Lee Seong-Woo downed No. 8 Irwin de Guzman, 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Basco, a protégé of Manila Southwoods Tennis Academy training director Manny Tecson, shoots for a final berth at 9 a.m. today against Lee.

In the girls division, top-ranked Filipino Czarina Mae Arevalo outclassed fifth seed Indian Gayatri Krisnan, 6-2, 6-1, to secure a semifinal slot in this event sponsored by Philam Life Foundation, The Phinma Group, adidas Philippines, Prince rackets, Toby’s Sports, Viva Mineral Water, Nassau balls, Coke Light, Powerade and The Star.

Arevalo, who will banner the women’s team in the Vietnam SEA Games this December, will face Taiwanese Tai Yu-Lin, a 6-2, 6-1 winner over Korean Byeon Hye-Jin.

Second seed Taiwanese Hwang I-Hsuan clobbered American Denise Dy, 6-1, 6-2, to forge a semifinal showdown with Korean Kim Hee-Ju, who conquered local Nikki Manalo, 6-0, 6-2.

In the girls’ doubles division, locals Ivy Kristhel de Castro and Noelle Conchita Zoleta rallied past fourth seed compatriots Michelle Panis and Bernardine Sepulveda, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, to advance in the semifinals against No. 2 Alyssa Ann Labay of the Philippines and Natalie Solevski of Australia, 6-2, 6-1 winners over Filipino pair Ma. Angelica Ngo and Michelle Pang.

Top seeds Hwang I-Hsuan and Tai Yu-Lin of Chinese Taipei demolished Korean pair Byeon Hyee-Jin and Kim Hee-Ju, 6-2, 6-1, to advance against third seeds Denise Dy of the United States and Gayatri Krishna of India, who posted a 6-2, 6-0 victory over locals Trudy Gine Amoranto and Nikki Manalo.