CEBU, Philippines - Changmai Necesario downed fellow Cebuano player Macr Norman Enriquez in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, to snatch a finals berth in the boys 18-under category of the 14th Tru-Flex National Age-Group Tennis Championships yesterday at the Paseo Amores tennis court in Lapu-Lapu City.
It was a sorry loss for Enriquez, who was expected to get past Necesario after he stunned the top-seeded Dave Sebastian Mosqueda in the quarterfinal round.
Enriquez actually got off to a good start, but wilted in the face of a spirited resistance by Necesario.
Necasario will face next either Joshua Kinaadman or Emmanuel Vacalares, who will slug it out for the remaining final slot today.
Cebu's homegrown talent Jan Godfrey Seno also kept his sizzling charge two book a pair of semifinal tickets via the boys 14 and 16-under played at the Mactan Benito Ebuen Airbase.
Seno handily won over Jace Christian Unto, 6-1, 6-1 in their boys 14-under quarterfinal final match. He followed it up with a 6-2, 6-3 thrashing of Joshua Kinaadman in the 16-under.
Unfortunately, even if Seno wins his games today, he is not sure of playing in the finals as he is scheduled to leave for Malaysia tomorrow to see action in the 2013 ITF World Junior Tennis Championships.
While Seno stayed on for his matches, another Malaysia-bound Cebuano netter Arthur Craig Pantino decided to drop his match in the same class against Emmanuel Vacalares.
Pantino left yesterday for Manila so he can still practice before going to Malaysia. He is only a last minute replacement though for for Albert Lim, the country's No.1 14-under player who is going to play in another tournament in India.
In the distaff side, 16-under topseed Roxanne Mae Resma crushed Jana Pages title hopes with a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory in their semis duel.
Resma also proceeded into the girls 18-under final opposite Iligan City’s Khim Iglupas.
Two other Cebuana bets in Zethley Mae Alferez and Shyne Villareal will figure in semifinal matches today.
Alferez will take on Sri Lankan Adithya Karunaratre, while Villareal will battle Angela Cabaral. (FREEMAN)