Velez bumps off Gurria, reaches 18-U final

MANILA, Philippines — John David Velez continued his emergence as a hot sensation in pulling the rug from under second seed Stefano Gurria, 7-5, 6-3, yesterday to barge into the final in the boys’ 18-under division of the 30th Andrada Cup Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Showing skills and power so impressive from a 14-year-old, Velez added Gurria in his list of upset victims and arranged a title showdown with Rupert Ohrelle Tortal.

The sixth seeded Tortal was leading, 4-0, in the first set when his semis rival No. 1 Jude Hidalgo retired due to injury.

Velez could become a double finalist as he was playing Exequiel Jucutan at press time in the 16-under semis of this event named after former Philippine Tennis Association president Buddy Andrada.

Top seed Axl Lajon Gonzaga clinched the first final berth in 16-under as he outlasted Marco Macalintal, 6-7 (1), 6-3, 10-4.

Velez has been on a romp since topping the 13th Asian Tennis Federation tournament in Serawak, Malaysia late last year.

In the girls’ 18-under, top seed Ma. Patricia Lim clawed back from a first set defeat and repulsed Jhastine Red Ballado, 4-6, 6-2, 10-7, to advance to the final versus Australia’s Crystal Mildwaters, who blanked Nina Sandejas, 6-0, 6-0.