Bautista, Flores dispute Palawan ELO title

MANILA, Philippines - Second seed Bettina Bautista overpowered Rose Ferolino, 6-0, 6-0, while unranked Keannu Flores subdued Terry Arejola, 6-2, 6-3, to arrange a showdown for the girls’ 18-and-under crown in Series 58 Palawan Pawnshop President’s ELO Cup Regional Age Group tennis circuit presented by Technifibre at the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque Monday.

Bautista, coming off a 6-1, 6-1 romp over Liza Dignos, imposed her strength over Ferolino, who came off a tough 5-7, 7-6(7), 10-6 win over Sam Martin, to fashion out the lopsided victory while Flores, who scored a walkover win over top seed Chloe Saraza in the previous round, stamped her class over Arejola to earn a shot at the premier girls crown in the tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop through COO Bobby Castro and sanctioned by Philta under president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Top seed Marcen Gonzales, meanwhile, beat Marcus del Rosario, 6-2, 6-0, to lead the Final Four cast in the boys’ 18-and-U. He will next face No. 5 Jose Nicolas Cano, who upended fourth ranked Vincent Alanis, 6-3, 6-1. Third seed Cenon Gonzales Jr. held off No. 6 Emmanuel Fuellas, 6-4, 6-4, to seal a duel with the winner of the last quarters match between No. 8 Liyang Thean and Al Burahan.

Rafaella Villanueva also moved into the finals of the girls’ 16-and-U section with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Bautista. She will take on the winner of the Lijan Thean-Bea Acena clash. The fancied Villanueva also stayed on course for the 14-and-U title as she toppled Lourdes Pe, 6-0, 6-0, for a semis clash with Miles Vitaliano, who defeated Cindy Nuguit, 6-0, 6-4.

Thean clipped Julia Co, 6-3, 6-1, to set the other semis showdown with Blanche Lagrisola, who thwarted off Maxine Martin, 6-4, 6-4.

Vitaliano also gained in the 12-and-U category, booting out Pearl Patoc, 6-2, 6-3, for a semis face-off with Macie Carlos, who eased out Kryshana Brazal, 6-1, 6-3, while Alexandra Eala whipped Bettina Catoto, 6-0, 6-0, for a semis duel with No. 2 Denise Bernardo, who outclassed Mia So, 6-3, 6-2.

Top seed Rafael Liangco also breezed through the 10-unisex semis with a 4-2, 4-1 romp over Shant Nuguit with Mark Andre Jarata taking the other Final Four berth with a 5-3, 4-0 win over JT Bernardo.

Edgardo Angara stunned No. 2 Carlos, 4-2, 5-4(4), to likewise advance to the semis against No. 7 Samuel Nuguit, who foiled Brazal, 4-1, 5-4(5).