The 14-year-old Arellano, who also bagged a gold medal in the all-women New Face of the Year tourney last year, steadied in the closing minutes to clinch a featherweight finals seat.
Pampangas Cristina Fay Dagpin and Lagunas Kathleen Eunice Alora also pulled through to slip into the finweight and fly finals, respectively.
Dagpin nipped Zamboangas Cathy Jane Hampac while Alora crushed Marie Imelda Espina, 7-0.
Figueroa, Hampac and Espina dropped to the losers bracket in the double elimination series organized by img and Philippine Taekwondo Association, sponsored by Samsung and supported by Accel and 103.5 K Lite.
US Open gold medalist Esther Marie Singson of Central Gym outclassed Diliman Preparatory Schools Jesufil Pedroza, 11-0, Wednesday to lead other semifinalists in the junior mens and womens divisions.
Singson, 15-year-old Araullo High junior who also triumphed in the 2000 and 2002 Palarong Pambansa, will meet Super Bodies Jan Ross Pacquing in the middleweight semifinals.
Also making it to the semifinals were:
Junior men Diliman PS John Paul Lizardo and Cotabatos Rolly Pentecoste, finweight; Zamboangas Jerome Reyes and BACSMAs Alvin de Larrazabal, bantam; and New Eras Jordan Gasgas, welter.
Junior women SSAs Joanne Panotes and Gerrielyn Decatus, bantam; and DPS Sabrina Simbulan and SLP Taekwondo Gyms Charissa Mae Sawali, light.
Lizardo, US Open silver medalist and 2000 Korea Open gold winner, whipped Don Boscos Macky Remitter, 8-0, to earn a shot at Pentecoste, default winner over LSMs Marco Luis Villanueva.
Reyes nipped Mark Alvin Torno, 4-3, after scoring the divisions first knockout victory at the expense of Cavites Jose Leo Gonzales, while De Larrazabal hurdled DPS Russel Mendoza, 5-1, and San Bedas Carlito Dacuma.
Gasgas proved too much for Bedan Leo Marko Valencia, winning by a 9-0 count.
Panotes won by superiority over Camille Valencia after they had fought a 1-1 draw, and earned a semis date with Decatus, who beat Rodha Catarig, 9-4, while Simbulan edged Shirley Anne Epan, 8-6, to arrange advance against Sawali, default winner over Ruzzel Jane Zamora.