Pradel stuns Arguelles

CEBU, Philippines - Marc Pradel of the University of the Visayas pulled off the biggest upset so far in the 19th JRG Gullas Tennis Cup, while John Paul Belikaol, a one-handed player from Argao, caught everyone in complete awe after winning his assignment yesterday at CitiGreen Tennis Resort in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City.

After trouncing Dave Villarba in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, the 14-year-old Pradel dropped a tournament bombshell when he bested the top-seeded JR Arguelles of Bacolod City to advance into the last 16 of the boys 16 age group.

Arguelles took the first set in convincing fashion, 6-2, but Pradel staged a daring fightback in the second frame, 6-3, to forge a rubbermatch. In the decider, Pradel conjured all the strength he could muster to shock the Bacoleño visitor, 10-5.

Pradel will be joined into the next round by early favorites Iggy Pantino, Jayme Caneo and Charles Cabarrubias. Pantino toppled Francis Ricana, 6-0, 6-1, Cabarrubias upended Francis Navales, 6-2, 6-3, while Caneo prevailed over Peter Cantillas, 6-3, 6-0.

Belikaol, for his part, showed a lot of promise despite playing with only one hand. He drew the admiration of many after he blasted his way to a 6-1, 6-0 demolition of Matthew Gullen in the boys’ 14 division.

Joshua and Janus Ringia, on the other hand, also got off to flying starts in the boys 14, with Janus crushing Paul Coderos,6-0, 6-0 and Joshua dumping Geiel Villaflor, 6-2,6-1.

The other players who moved up to the round of 16 in the boys 14 were Venz Alforque, Lorenz Celis, Heart Sotto, Gabriel Tarazo and Francis Hidalgo.

Alforque clobbered Kirk Ross Manigsaca, 6-0, 6-0, Celis whipped Dante Toledo, 6-3,6-2,  while Sotto, Trazo and Hidalgo all won by default.

Over at Alta Vista Golf and Country Club, the Salimbangon siblings started their title bids on the right footing. Cesar Kristoffer silenced Josh Coderos, 4-0, 4-0, in the unisex 10 under division, while his sister Kristine Renee defeated Regina Igoy, 6-0, 6-1 in the girls 14. They are now assured of quarterfinal berths.

Cesar Kristoffer  is joined into the unisex under-10 quarterfinals by Eric Longakit, Tiffany Nocos, Bert Cortes, Ashton Villanueva, Harland Hogan, and  Ethan Quino, who also posted easy victories except for Hogan and Quino. Hogan survived a three-set thriller against Neil Manayon, 4-1, 2-4, 4-0, while Quino nipped Kyle Enriquez, 5-3, 2-4, 4-0.

Edhel Parangan, on the other hand, scored back-to-back wins over Precious Coderos, 6-3, 6-3 in the girls 16 and against Kristel Marie Sampan, 6-1,6-1 in the girls 14-under.

The other girls 14 matches saw Bless Bayking defeating Ashley Balatero, 6-2, 6-4, and Ellaine Rose Bahonsua getting past Shedel Gica, 6-2, 6-0. (FREEMAN)