Santos merciless in one-sided duel, faces Zoleta in semis

Top seed Ana Patricia Santos pummeled Josephine Paguyo, 6-1, 6-0, yesterday to barge into the semifinals of the P200, 000 Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) Open at the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque.

Playing with an awesome display of power tennis, the 22-year-old Santos proved too much against Paguyo as she run away with the one-sided victory that set up a semis duel against fast-rising Bien Zoleta, the youngest participant in this weeklong event at 13.

The third-ranked Zoleta was as dominant as Santos in bundling out Angelica Ngo, 6-0, 6-2, to advance to the next round of this meet bankrolled by Philta chairman Dr. Pablo Olivarez and supported by Stronghold Insurance, Sime Tires, Adidas, Wilson Balls and Olivarez Group of Companies.

"My goal is to win as many games as I can," said the beauteous, long-legged Santos, a semifinalist in last year’s PCA Open. "I think I’m playing really solid tennis."

Second seed Alyssa Labay, a Federation Cupper like Santos, likewise made it into the next round although she had to overcome some anxious moments before repulsing Divina Escala, 6-4, 7-5. Labay’s next foe is Michelle Panis, a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Catherine Flores.

In men’s action, rivals Joseph Victorino and Johnny Arcilla, members of the RP squad that lost to China in a Group II Davis Cup tie in China last month, arranged a much-awaited duel of two of the country’s top netters by beating their respective opponents.

Playing his usual solid baseline game, the top seeded Victorino outplayed No. 7 Rolando Ruel, 6-2, 6-3, while Arcilla, ranked third here, crushed sixth-ranked Pop Sabandon, 6-4, 6-3, to forge a fourth meeting in nine months.

"Iba talaga pag si Johnny (Arcilla) ang kalaban ko," said the 19-year-old Victorino of Philippine Air Force who ousted Arcilla in the semifinals of the PCA Open en route to winning the crown.

"Siguradong magandang labanan na naman ang mangyayari kasi alam kong gusto niyang bumawi," he added.