Sally Mae Siso tops tennisfest

CEBU, Philippines - Sally Mae Siso came out of a self-imposed sabbatical and won in the OTR-CITCI Christmas Tournament at the newly-refurbished Consolacion Tennis courts in Laray, Consolacion.

Siso, who is one of the top 16 players who represented the Cebu International Tennis Centre, defeated Jessie Daniel Villarin, 6-3 to win the title.

Unlike in most junior tournaments here, the just-concluded event was a free-for-all battle with a total of 35 players coming from CITCI top training pool members and some kids from Hong Kong under OTR.

The group was split into groups playing in a single round-robin system and the top 16 advanced to the Cup knockout stage.

In the semifinal round, Siso played against Iggy Pantino wherein the former beat the latter with her great backhand while Villarin played aggressively to outsmart Hannah Espinosa.

Villarin displayed tight forehands, but Sally Mae Siso stepped up her game to win the final match played at one set only.

Siso’s victory actually came out to be a double victory after winning the Davis Cup-type battle earlier also against the OTR kids. (FREEMAN)