Three Cebuanos enter semis

CEBU, Philippines - Three Cebuanos and a player from Palawan are the first to advance to the semifinal round of the 15th Gullas Tennis Cup after defeating their respective opponents at the Cebu Country Club courts yesterday.

Gener Francis Lambayan, Francis Hidalgo, Zethly Mae Alferez and Palawan’s Alexie Santos all won their quarterfinal matches in straight sets.

Lambayan clobbered Kevin Balundo, 6-1, 6-0 to meet Hidalgo in the next round. Hidalgo won against JC Balundo, 6-2, 6-3.

Alferez, for her part, overpowered Rey Dante Toledo, 6-4, 6-1 while Santos defeated Bernie Blythe Bunghug, 6-0, 6-0.

On the other hand, the boys and girls’ 12, 14, and 18 along with the girls’16 will have their quarterfinal round today.

In the boys’12, the quarterfinalists are Jan Godfrey Seno, Tangub’s Jeff Balatero and King Paler, Christopher Encarnacion, Louie Mendez, Joshua Kinaadman, Clyde Dujale and Francis Lambayan.

Seno, Balatero, Encarnacion, and Paler are also into the next round of the boys’14-under class along with Cotabato’s Reynaldo Dimao Jr., Mark Dennis Garlet, Ralph Juliane, and Tangub’s Francis Dominic Lanzado.

In the boys’18-under, Niño Siso and Israel Abarquez advanced into the quarterfinal round without sweat after enjoying a second round bye.

Siso will face Princeton Gerapusco of South Cotabato after the latter pulled away a 7-5, 6-0 win against Juniel Espinosa while Abarquez will meet Tangub’s Ivan Ray Casanillo after a hard-earned win against Mart Campo, 3-6, 6-2, 10-7.

Other quarterfinalists in the boys’18 are Paulo Cenabre, Amiel Aya-ay, Fritz Satera, and Jess Anthony Espinosa.

Satera also moved up to the next round in the boys’16 after silencing Nino Ritz Remonde, 6-0, 6-2.

Joining Satera in the next round so far are Francis Dominic Lanzado and Reynaldo Dimao.

In the distaff side, Alexie Santos and Zethly Mae Alferez aside from gaining semifinals seat in the 10-under class, are in the quarterfinal round of the girls 12 together with Shyne Villareal, Allysa Mae Bornia, Sheena Camporedondo, Jana Pages and Cherry Mae Toledo.

All 14-under girls’ entries are also in the quarterfinal round right away. They are Elgy Dasian, Berlie Blythe Bungahug, Erika Keller, Marie Andre Toledo, Crissiane Issa Kintanar, Clarrisa Mae Fuentes, Karla Cristy Go and Francis Lorein Lanzado.

Like Niño Siso, his sister, Sally Mae, also enjoyed a second round bye along with Elma Dasian and Arianne Alforque.

Siso will be playing in the quarterfinal round versus Hannah Grace Espinosa after the latter pulled away a 6-1, 6-3 win against Sharalyn Tungcao while Dasian will face Cristine Bellita after outsmarting Darlyn Mae Relacion, 6-0, 5-7, 10-5.

Other quarterfinalists of the girls’16 are Khyle Longagit who enjoyed a walk-over in and Samantha Baylosis after surviving a tough match against Jeryan Campo, 6-3, 3-6, 10-7.

Sally Mae Siso and Elma Dasian are also in the quarterfinal round of the girls’ 18 along with Kristel Mae Buenacosa, Khara Lei Abadia, Sallydine Siso and Bianca Cenabre. – THE FREEMAN