Encarnacion, 3 other Cebuanos into national finals of Milo tennis

CEBU, Philippines - Christopher Encarnacion led three other Cebuano netters who advanced into the national finals after topping their respective divisions in the Visayas leg of the 2010 Milo Junior Tennis Cup yesterday at the Cebu Country Club.

Encarnacion was joined into the grand finale by defending unisex 10-under champion Arthur Craig Pantino, Ralph Juliane, and Crissiane Issa Kintanar along with Palawan’s Alexie Santos.

Encarnacion got the 12-under title he missed last year after crushing Jan Godfrey Seno, 6-2, 6-0.

Pantino, a player from the University of San Carlos-South, easily defended his throne with a 6-0, 6-3 thrashing of Gener Francis Lambayan.

Ralph Juliane may be relatively new to many but his determination against more favored players also earned him a ticket to the final round.

Juliane outsmarted Adrian Parangan in the boys 14-under final, 3-6, 6-3, 10-1.

Crissiane Kintanar clobbered Clarissa Mae Fuentes, 6-1, 6-1 to be the fourth Cebuano to go to Clark this August against the other regions’ best.

Palawan’s Alexie Santos sealed her visit to Cebu with a 6-0, 6-0 shutout of Zethley Mae Alferez.

In the special events, Sally Mae Siso came up with a double victory, while her brother Niño still failed to solve the puzzle that beset him against Israel “RJ” Abarquez.

Sally Mae went too much for Kintanar in the girls 16-under final, 6-2, 6-2. She later dumped Hannah Espinosa, 6-2, 6-2 in the girls 18 championship.

Unfortunately, Sally Mae’s brother Niño bowed to Abarquez for the fourth time, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6). Their match lasted for two hours and 40 minutes.

Fritz Satera completed the winners’ list after whipping Francis Parangan, 6-0, 6-2 to take home the boys 16-under crown. (FREEMAN NEWS)