No sweat victory for Siso in Gullas Cup tennis tilt

CEBU, Philippines - Sally Mae Siso and Mary Nathalie Cobarde prevailed over separate foes in contrasting fashion to rule their respective divisions in the 18th Gullas Tennis Cup yesterday at the Cebu International Tennis Centre, Inc. (CITCI) in Laray, Consolacion.

Siso, one of the regulars in Cebu’s longest running developmental tennis tournament,claimed her first 21-under crown without exuding sweat as her final opponent Kezia Jabines did not show up in their scheduled match.

In stark contrast, Cobarde was pushed to the limit before fending off Cristela Sampan, 7-6, 6-4 to claim the girls 12-under title.

The rest of the championship matches are scheduled today, with the fast-rising Jana Pages gunning for two titles in the girls 18 and 16 categories.

Pages marched into the girls 18 finals after demolishing Mary Clare Lazaga, 6-1, 6-1. She will vie for the gold in the said age-group against Elgy Dasian.

In the girls 16, Pages progressed into the final stage after whipping Cherry Mae Toledo. She will face next Zethley Mae Alferez, who ousted Shyne Villareal.

Like Pages, Alferez also have two final appearances. The other one in the girls 14-under against Villareal. Alferez eliminated  Kristin Renee Salimbangon, while Villareal outsmarted Beverly Enriquez.

Kristin Renee’s brother Cesar Kristofer Salimbangon and Marc Norman Enriquez also grabbed two championship tickets. Salimbangon in the unisex 10-under and boys 12, while Enriquez in boys 18 and 21-under.

 Enriquez made it to the 21-under boys final at the expense of Amiel Ayaay, 7-6, 6-4 and in the boys 18 after crushing Ralph Juliane, 6-0, 6-2.

Enriquez will take on Jeffrie Jumawan in the 21-under final and against either Joshua Kinaadman or Jarryd Laurel in the boys 18. Jumawan advanced after escaping with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Jessie Daniel Villarin.

Christopher Encarnacion, on the other hand, arranged title showdown against Joshua Kinaadman in the boys 16-under. Encarnacion won against Manila’s Elijah Arevalo, 7-6, 6-4 while Kinaadman dumped Andrei Rodriguez, 6-3, 6-0 in the semifinal round.

Francis Lambayan and Clyde Dujali completed the  final cast as they face each other in the 14-under class.   (FREEMAN)