Cebu’s Espinosa, Abarquez advance in Peugeot Tennis

Cebu netters Israel Abarquez and Hannah Espinosa kept their championship hopes alive after they dominated separate foes in the Peugeot Philippines Tennis Open (PPTO) yesterday at Cebu Country Club.

Abarquez advanced to the semis round with a 6-0, 6-2 triumph over Claudio Canlas to setup a tough matchup against second-ranked Francis Casey Alcantara.

Cebu’s Hanna Espinosa, playing for the National University, beat Floreza Alesna, 6-1,4-1 (retire) to make the semifinal round. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Earlier in the day, Alcantara broke the hearts of the hometown faithful by crushing Cebuano junior netter Jan Godfrey Seno, 6-1, 6-4.

Apart from Alcantara and Abarquez, eight-time Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) tennis champion Johnny Arcilla and Marcen Angelo Gonzales also advanced into the semifinal round.

Arcilla trampled Calvin Canlas, 6-1, 6-1, while Gonzales downed John Earl Enriquez, 6-4, 6-4.

In the distaff side, Espinosa of National University stopped Floreza Alesna, 6-1, 4-1, to make the semis.

But that wasn’t the case for two-time Batang Pinoy gold medalist Elizabeth Abarquez, who bowed out after losing to Erika Manduriao, 4-6, 6-2, 10-7.

Also advancing was Macy Gonzales, who won against Kendies Thea Malinis, 6-1,6-1.