Tria, Amistad stay in hunt in Palawan P’shop netfest

MANILA, Philippines - Nio Tria and Nicole Amistad disposed of their rivals in emphatic fashions to stay on course for a “double” in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis circuit presented by Technifibre at the Brookside Hills Tennis Club in Cainta, Rizal yesterday.

The top seeded Tria swept Jose Martin, 6-0, 6-0, then overpowered Karl Carasus, 6-0, 6-1, to set up a semis duel with Ross Perpetua in the boys’ 12-and-under class.

Perpetua trounced Athan Arejola, 6-1, 6-4, then upended Alfred Doloroso, 6-1, 6-3, to reach the Final Four of the event hosted by Cainta Mayor Kit Nieto.

Tria also reached the semis of the 14-and-Under, repulsing Lloyd Canlog, 2-6, 6-2, 10-5, and whisking off Perpetua, 6-0, 6-1, for a showdown with top seed Marcus Del Rosario, who blanked Joseph Apilado, 6-0, 6-0, and downed Alexander Bulilan, 6-0, 6-4, in the weeklong event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop headed by COO Bobby Castro.

The second-seeded Amistad also continued to dominate the girls’ side, routing Bianca Dy and Margaret Flores via the same score, 6-0, 6-0, to seal a semis duel with No. 3 Karamina Atangan, who ripped Janeth Mesina, 6-1, 6-0, and Roxanne Dimson, 6-4, 6-0, in the girls’ 18-and-Under category.

Samantha Martin scored a walkover win over No. 4 Khim Sotelo then got past Kristine Caniel, 6-1, 6-3, to clinch the other semis berth against the winner of the top seed Coleen Sioson-Terry Arejola quarterfinal clash being played at presstime.

Amistad, also as No. 2, whitewashed Irene Cansino , 6-0, 6-0, to lead the quarters cast in the 16-and-Under of the event which drew over 200 junior players and supported by Cainta’s LGU (local government units).

The event is sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Others who advanced were top seed Chloe Mae Saraza, Blanche Lagrisola, Sioson, Margaret Ang Go, Atangan, Therese Cruz and Bettina Bautista.

Saraza also made it to the semis of the 14-and-Under, winning by default over Mariane Ferry and towing Miles Vitaliano and Bautista with the last seat being disputed by Ellaine Bahonsua and Cruz at presstime.

Vitaliano defeated Amelie Matta, 6-3, 6-0, to cruise to the semis of the 12-and-Under along with Macie Carlos, who trampled Kryshana Brazal, 6-2, 6-2; Denise Bernardo, who repulsed Laura Demyer, 6-1, 7-5; and Lourdes Pe, who routed Felinne Aquino, 6-1, 6-0.