Iglupas breezes thru Andrada Cup semis

MANILA, Philippines - Khim Iglupas spent more time preparing for her match against Guia Arzaga yesterday than wrapping up the win in the resumption of the 25th Andrada Cup Age-Group Tennis Championships.

Iglupas, out to secure the girls’ 18-under title that eluded her last year, didn’t drop a game in scoring a 6-0, 6-0 win in less than an hour at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The victory pushed Iglupas to the semis of the premiere division. Up next for her is Patricia Nicole Paez who had a tougher time getting rid of Alexis Bangayan, 6-3, 6-2.

The event is named after the long-time president of the Philippine Tennis Association and now PSC commissioner Salvador “Buddy” Andrada. It is one of the longest-running age-group tennis event in the country.

Khyshana Brazal, the top seed in the girls’ 12-under division, went home with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Justine Hannah Maneja.

Brazal, who’s only 10 years old, will next face Denise Bernardo, a 6-2, 6-4 winner over Macie Carlos in the second day of action at the Rizal Memorial courts.

Persian Rivera survived Virgie Perez, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), to reach the semis of the 18-under class.

Also advancing to the semis of the tournament sponsored by the PSC, Dunlop Balls, Olivarez Sports Center, Cebuana Lhuillier, Altamar Shipping, Tru-Flex and Phinma Group of Companies were Julia Ignacio and Bettina Catoto.

Mark Alfred Directo marched on in the boys’ 12-under with an easy 6-0, 6-0 win over Jude Hidalgo. Frances Santiago also progressed in the girls’ 16-under with a 6-0, 6-1 triumph against Katrina Peñaflor.

Brazal will also see action in the 10-under unisex division by beating Riley Matieu Banaag, 6-2, 6-3. Next in line for her is second seed Cesar Kristoffer Salimbangon eliminated Estogero Kidlat, 6-0, 6-0.