Lazaro rips Abarquez, gains semis

Favorites Kim Iver Saraza and Leander Lazaro pulled off contrasting results yesterday to advance to the semifinal round in the boys’ 16-and-under division of the 19th Andrada Cup Age-Group Tennis Championships at the Rizal Tennis Center.

Saraza, who drew a first round bye, made it through the semis with a second straight walkover win.

Lazaro, on the other hand, had to endure a tough second set challenge by Israel Abarquez to complete a 6-0, 7-5 victory and arrange a duel with the winner between Kim Polero and Jason Patrombon.

Saraza faces the winner of the Demrick Alina-Ed Amor match for a crack at the final.

Chynna Mamawal shocked 16-and-under third pick July Javelosa, 6-4, 6-0, and Shannin Olivarez trounced Samantha Coyinto, 6-3, 6-2, to advance to the semis.

Unseeded Kim Alexis Sotelo scored the biggest win in the girls’ 12-and-under class by stunning No. 4 Sydney Alexa Mella, 6-1, 6-1, to gain the semis.

No. 1 Ericka Lagura, No. 2 Katrina Orteza and No. 3 Isabela Orteza, for their part, lived up to their billing by smashing their respective foes.

Lagura blanked Urduja Eminga, 6-0, 6-0, while Isabela Orteza dumped Deborah Abarquez, 6-0, 6-1, to set up a semis meeting while the other Orteza thumped Crista Santiago, 6-2, 6-2, to line up a semis confrontation with Sotelo.

In the unisex section for 10 years and below, Eric Olivarez Jr. and Vince Salas arranged a title clash after hammering out emphatic triumphs.

The top seeded Olivarez smashed Brysl Libao, 6-1, 6-2, while the second-ranked Salas downed Maia Balce, 6-0, 6-0.