Cebuano tennis sensations John Clyde Laquio and Jan Godfrey “Noy” Seno did not disappoint their home fans by scoring separate semifinal wins yesterday to set up a titular showdown in the premier 18-Under boys division of the Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group Tennis Championships at the Citigreen Tennis Resort in Labangon.
The 16-year old Seno of the University of San Carlos Warriors (USC), continued his blazing run in the tournament by scoring successive victories against Jose Maria Pague of Zamboanga and Vince “EJ” Tugade.
Seno found the 14-year old Pague a tough not to crack as the Zamboanga native proved relentless, beating the Cebuano ace, 7-5 in the opening set.
However, the Bogo City native Seno regained his fearsome form in the second and third sets to steal the victory, 6-4, 10-7. He then cruised to a straight sets win over Tugade in the semis, 6-4, 6-4 to claim a finals ticket.
Not to be outdone is the hard-hitting Laquio of Naga City, who also tallied two victories yesterday by crushing fellow Cebuano Marc Nicole Suson, 6-2, 6-2 and Duma Hakim Baloto, 6-0, 6-3 to secure a finals date against Seno today.
Meanwhile, Suson rebounded from his stinging loss in the boys 18-U division by advancing to the champinship round of the 16-U class following his bruising, 7-5, 7-6 (5) semifinal win over Clyde Mari Casino of Cagayan de Oro.
Suson will go up against the winner of the Jose Maria Pague-Duma Hakim Baloto semis match which was still being played as of press time yesterday.
In the girls division, Cebuana netter Tiffany Claire Nocos bowed out of the tournament after suffering a stinging quarterfinals loss to Lyra Mae Repollo, 4-6, 4-6.