Siso claims final slot in Gullas Tennis Cup

CEBU, Philippines - Sally Mae Siso scored another lopsided triumph, this time at the expense of Tacloban’s Grace Melchor to advance into the girls 21-under finals of the 18th Gullas Tennis Cup yesterday at the Cebu International Tennis Centre, Inc. (CITCI) courts in Laray, Consolacion.

Siso blasted Melchor in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0 to set up a gold medal match with another Leyteño netter Kezia Jabines, who clinched a finals berth after booting out Elgy Dasian, 6-2, 6-3.

Dasian hit back at Jabines though in their girls 18-under semifinal match, 6-1, 6-2.

Dasian will face next either Jana Pages or Mary Claire Lazaga, who advanced into the championship round after eliminating Sheena Camporedondo, 6-2, 6-2.

The girls 12-under finals, on the other hand, will feature Cristela Sampan against Mary Nathalie Cobarde.

Sampan kicked out Pherl Bless Coderos, 6-1, 6-1, while Cobarde handed Tamara Suquib the axe in convincing fashion, 6-1, 6-0.

While some players already barged into the finals, most of the semifinal showdown will be played today.

In the men’s 21-under, Jessie Daniel Villarin and Jeffrie Jumawan will take on each other in the penultimate round, while Marc Norman Enriquez will face Amiel Ayaay after they beat Joshua Bendoy, 6-0, 6-0 and Christian Edullantes, 6-2, 6-1, respectively.

The boys 16-under semis cast is also now complete, with Manila’s Elijah Arevalo slugging it out with Christopher Encarnacion and Joshua Kinaadman going up against Andrei Rodriguez.

Arevalo toppled Francis Lambayan, 6-3, 6-1, Encarnacion defeated Raymart Arevalo of Manila, 6-1, 6-2, Kinaadman posted a 6-1, 6-1 win against Jermaine Laurel, while Rodriguez trounced John Bienes, 6-3,6-4.

Kinaadman is also scheduled to play in the boys 18-under semis after hacking out a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Christian Dale Soon.

In the unisex 10-under, Cesar Kristofer Salimbangon will tackle Cristela Sampan, while Harland Hogan battles Gabriel Trazo.

Salimbangon progressed after crushing John Nicholas Abad, 6-0, 6-3, Sampan slammed Noella Kaye Ramos, 6-0, 6-1, Hogan outsmarted Pherl Bless Coderos and Trazo pulled a hard-earned 6-3, 7-5 triumph over Ashton Villanueva.

Trazo missed a double semifinal entry after losing to Jace Unto in the boys 12-under quarterfinals.

While Trazo was dismissed in the boys’12, Villanueva stayed alive after beating Ryesei Kimura, 6-1, 6-1.

On the other hand, Shyne Villareal  had a no-sweat semifinal entry in the girls 14 ,while Beverly Enriquez silenced Patricia Tapdasan, 6-0, 6-0.

Villareal is confident of beating Enriquez again today after she already beat her in the girls 16 quarterfinals, 6-3, 6-2.

The likes of Ralph Juliane, Nathaniel Alipe, Francis Navales and Clyde Dujali are also in the semifinal round, with Juliane winning his match against Kurt Gerapusco, 6-4, 6-0 and Alipe prevailing over Jace Unto, 3-6, 6-4, 11-9.       

Navales rolled past over Darren Navasquez, 6-0, 6-1, while Dujali defeated Zudie Karl Balundo, 6-4, 6-3 in the boys 14-under quarterfinals. (FREEMAN)