Salvacion brothers stay on collision course

MANILA, Philippines - Siblings Luis and Patrick Salvacion posted a pair of straight-set victories to lead the quarterfinal cast in the boys’ 12-and-under category even as unranked Marco Sardea stunned second seed Lance Gnilo in the premier class in the Lucena leg of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group presented by at the Ouans Resort Tennis Courts in Quezon over the weekend.

The top seeded Luis toppled Andreiy Masongsong, 6-0, 6-1, to set a Last 8 clash with Pepito Roman, who upset No. 8 Caleb Gnilo, 6-3, 6-1; while the fifth-ranked Patrick beat Ivan Aguiba, 6-4, 6-1, to arrange a quarters duel with Magnus Gnilo, who eased past Doie Mayol, 6-4, 6-2, in the upper bracket.

The Salvacions are two of the standouts of the St. Philomena School in Lucena City vying in the Group 3 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and organized by Philta headed by Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Others who advanced were No. 2 Jose Thomas Bernardo and No. 6 Ron Amper, who blanked Renz Magabo and Julius Elma, 6-0, 6-0, respectively; seventh seed Lawrence Baria and Daniel Alpajora.

Luis Salvacion also booked a semis spot in the 10-unisex with a 4-0, 4-1 romp over Raphael Layson but will have his hands full against top seed Bernardo, who also posted a similar 4-0, 4-1 win over Caleb Gnilo.

Sardea, meanwhile, provided the spark in the boys’ 18-U class by upending Lance Gnilo, 6-1, 6-1, while Kenneth Iporac also upset No. 5 Vryan de Asis, 6-1, 6-1, in the upper half of the draw.

Unseeded Nicko Manosca also shocked No. 2 Lance Gnilo, 6-4, 7-5, to barge into the U-16 quarters that included Khryz Bunag, Franklin Valderama, Ranz Javier, Domini Rolle, RJ Virrey and Jibril Perpetua.

Meanwhile, Kaye Alcala trounced Maylani Borbor, 6-2, 6-2, while Michaela Tadiosa snatched a 1-6, 6-1, 10-5 victory over Jhazmin Rigon to lead the quarters cast in the girls’ 18-U category.

Alcala also made it to the Last 8 group in 16-U with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Andrea Lagar, joining the tough cast that includes Denise Bernardo, Yvonne Magno Reisha Nillasca, Gaby Zoleta, Romabel Tabernilla and Rigon.