Santos on course for Palawan romp

MANILA, Philippines - Puerto Princesa’s Alexie Santos continued to dish out top form as he beat three rivals to make it to the semifinal round of the girls’ 14-, 16- and 18-and-under classes of the Cebu leg of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis circuit presented by Technifibre at the Consolacion Tennis Club, Laray, Cebu yesterday.

The 14-year-old Santos, who swept three titles in the Palawan and Mactan legs of the circuit, routed Precious Coderos, 6-0, 6-0, to arrange a semis duel with No. 3 Mae Bornia, who clipped Olive Enriquez, 6-2, 6-0, while No. 2 Kristine Salimbangon downed Mae Toledo, 6-1, 6-1, for a Final Four encounter with No. 4 Zethley Alferez, who blanked Lady Espinosa, 6-0, 6-0, in the girls’ premier division.

Unranked in the 16-and-U class, Santos beat Salimbangon, 6-0, 6-0, but will have her hands full in the semis against top seed Alferez, who also blanked Espinosa, 6-0, 6-0.

No. 2 Averille Sacapano trounced Toledo, 6-4, 6-1, for a semis duel with Bornia, who stunned No. 4 Patricia Velez, 6-2, 6-0, in the week-long event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop through COO Bobby Castro.

As No. 5 in the 14-and-U section, Santos dominated Sacapano, 6-0, 6-0, for a semis clash with Alferez, who defeated Lyra Repollo, 6-1, 6-1, while the top seeded Patricia Velez rolled past Anica Cari, 6-3, 6-1, to set up a duel with No. 4 Salimbangon, who blanked Shedel Gica, 6-0, 6-0.

In boys’ play, top seed Luke Flores held off Peter Cantillas, 6-3, 6-3, to seal a semis duel with Geo Pepito, who survived a second set scare from Jules Cari, 6-3, 7-6(3), in the 18-and-U class of the tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Nathan Songco scored a walkover win over No. 4 Marc Abangan to gain a crack at the other finals berth against Vhon Tudtod, who dominated Lou Daclan, 6-0, 6-1.

Flores also advanced to the semis of the 16-U section, holding off Francis Lambayan, 6-0, 7-5, while No. 8 Songco upset No. 2 Matthew Flores, 6-1, 6-3, for semis duel with No. 7 Stephen Tubbs, who also shocked No. 3 Francis Navales, 6-1, 6-2.

The No. 2 Cari beat Claire Nocos, 6-1, 6-3, to advance to the semis of the girls’ 12-U division against No. 3 Lyra Repollo, who dominated Bless Coderos, 6-1, 6-1, while No. 1 Sacapano booted out Lorrein Montanes, 6-4, 6-0, for a semis clash with unseeded Wayne Albarazin, who upended No. 6 CJ Suson, 6-3, 6-4.

Top seed John Velez David routed GM Basalo, 6-0, 6-0, to lead the semifinalists in the 10-unisex along with Claire Nocos, who upset No, 3 Harland Hogan, 6-3, 6-3; No. 2 Ceasar Salimbangon, who blanked Pepito Camay, 6-0, 6-0; and No. 4 Eric Longakit, who smothered Revo Lao, 6-2 6-0.

Velez also lined himself up for a crack at the finals in 12-U as he whipped John Tenepre, 6-1, 6-2, for a semis clash with No. 4 Venz Alforque, who scored a walkover win over Russel Canete.

Ceasar Salimbangon beat Joshua Torres, 6-1, 6-0, to arrange a clash with No. 3 Sebastian Santos, who beat Nonito Pepito, 6-3, 6-2, for the other finals berth.

Unranked Lorenzo Legaspi trounced Mark Albarazin, 6-4, 6-1, to reach the boys’ 14-U semis against Alforque, who shocked No. 4 Paul Ong in a marathon 5-7, 6-3, 15-13 win while Francis Lambayan thumped Patrick Camello, 6-0, 6-0, to clinch the other semis seat.