Siso siblings make semis in Gullas tennis

CEBU, Philippines - By the way it looks, Bernardine "Niño" Siso is determined to make his final appearance in the Gullas Cup a memorable one as he coasted to a resounding start in the 16th edition of the biggest and longest-run tennis event in the Vis-Min region yesterday at the Cebu Country Club (CCC).

After drawing a first round bye, Siso had little trouble in clobbering Arnel Torreon in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0 to advance into the boys 18-under semifinals. He missed the title last year after being vanquished by RJ Abarquez.

Meanwhile, Niño's sister Sally Mae, a double-gold medallist in soft tennis event of the Philippine National Games (PNG) recently in Bacolod, is the first female player to secure a semifinal ticket in this PHILTA Group 2-sanctioned event sponsored by the Gullas family.

Niño Siso will face next either Janel Troy Pintor or Jhunnel Espinosa for a championship berth. He will be joined into the next round by Franklin Encarnacion, who outlasted Mark Amodia, 6-0, 6-2.

On the other hand, the likes of Godfrey Seno, Carl Balindo, Arthur Craig Pantino, Jonas Lambayan, Francis Parangan, Mark Enriquez, Jared Laurel and John Necesario also barged into the semifinal phase of their respective classes.

Seno kicked out Derek Tabotabo, 6-3, 6-0 to set up boys 12 semis duel with Balindo, who overpowered Nathaniel Alipe, 6-1,6-0.

The fast-rising Pantino clobbered Franklin Escobia, 6-0, 6-0 to arrange an exciting match-up with Lambayan, who ousted Clyde Dujali, 6-2,6-4.

In the boys 16-under semis, Parangan will square off against Enriquez, while Laurel tackles Necesario. Parangan outsmarted Christian Soon, 6-1, 6-3, while Enriquez pulled off a 6-1, 6-2 rout of Dwayne Arcullas.

Laurel rolled past the little-known Ivan Olo, 6-2, 6-3 as Necesario dominated Alfred Llarinon, Jr., 6-1,-6-1. — THE FREEMAN