Emotional Siso captures 2 titles in farewell tourney

CEBU, Philippines - An emotional Sally Mae Siso made her farewell tournament in the Gullas Cup a memorable one, clinching two titles in the 17th edition of the annual tennis event which came to a close yesterday at the Cebu International Tennis Centre, Inc. (CITCI) courts in Laray, Consolacion.“I’m having mixed emotions right now. I should be happy since I won two titles, but I’m sad at the same time because this is my last Gullas Cup. Also, today (yesterday) is my dad’s death anniversary,” said Siso, who could no longer take part in the event next year as she will already be 18 years old by that time.

Siso started joining the biggest age-group tennis competition in the Vis-Min region when she was only six years old. She capped her decade-long dominance with a masterful twinkill.

Siso handily clobbered Crissiane Issa Kintanar in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0 to snatch the girls 18-under crown.

After a short rest, she teamed up with Hannah Grace Espinosa in whipping the tandem of Claire Lazaga and Christine Bellita, 8-3, to lord it over in the the doubles category.

Kintanar though still has something to cheer about as she rallied past Imaville Gervacio in a grueling three-set battle, 4-6, 6-0, 10-4 to clinch the girls 16-under tiara.

Maimai Bornia prolonged Gervacio's misery as she outsmarted the latter,7-5, 6-2 to snare the girls 14-under championship.

In the girls 12-under final, Kethley Mae Alferez gamely handled a bunch of Kara Salimbangon's supporters led by Cebu 4th District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon to hammer out a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory.

Kara’s brother Cesar Kristofer likewise settled for only a silver after bowing to Nonito John Pepito, 6-2, 6-1 in the unisex 10-under class.

In the boys 18-under, Angelo Esguerra stunned the fancied Fritz Satera, 6-3 ,4-6, 10-6 in a match that lasted for nearly two hours to take home the champion's trophy.        Satera's only consolation was after winning the doubles title.

On the other hand, Francis Gener Lambayan pounced Franck Hidalgo, 6-1, 6-4 to grab the boys 12-under plum, while Christopher Encarnacion got the 14-under crown he missed last year after crushing John Clyde Laquio, 6-1, 6-3.

Dave Sebastian Mosqueda completed the winners’ list after he dominated the boys 16-under class with a convincing 6-1, 6-2 victory over Jaryd Laurel. (FREEMAN)