THE CEBUANO junior netters kept the Bisdaks’ hopes for championship titles alive as the 2014 Philippine Lawn Tennis Association’s (Philta) 25th Andrada Cup entered its penultimate day yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Malate, Manila.
Cesar Kristofer Salimbangon assured the Cebuanos a second place finish after he barged into the championship round in the 10-Under Unisex division after dropping Kidlat Estogero, 6-0, 6-0, in the quarterfinals and Kryshana Brazal 6-3, 6-0, in the semis to forge a finals battle versus Miguel Luis Vicencio, a 6-0, 6-0 winner over Jude Hidalgo.
Cesar Kristofer, though, lost to Aldwyn Rosales, 0-6, 1-6, in the Boys 12 -Under division.
Arthur Craig Pantino, the highest-seeded player among the Cebuanos in his age group division, zoomed into the semifinal round of the Boys 14-Under division after he dropped Max Luz Stehling in the second round, 3-6, 6-3, 10-4, before booting out Mark Alfred Directo, 6-0, 6-0, in the quarterfinals.
Pantino’s win will pit him in the semis against Manuel Balce III, who dropped Rafael Carlo Halili, 6-3, 6-1, in the quarterfinals.
Bright Academy’s Zethley Mae Alferez overcame a loss in the 16-Under Girls division by defeating Mikaela Vicencio in the 14-Under division, 6-3, 6-3, in the quarterfinals and forge a semis duel versus Rafaela Jean Villanueva, who topped Blanche Lagrisola, 6-1, 6-1.
Alferez lost to topseed Khim Iglupas in their 16-Under Girls 2nd round match, 0-6, 1-6, while fellow Cebuana Kristin Renee Salimbangon bowed down to Mikaela Vicencio, 0-6, 2-6, in the same age category. Salimbangon also lost to Jacky Tan Ho, 1-6, 6-3, 10-8, in their 16-Under Girls battle earlier.