Maia Balce stunned top seed Erika Manduriao, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, to arrange a finals duel with Isabella Orteza in the girls’ 14-under division of the First Olivarez-Philta Open Tennis Championship at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque.
The No. 2-ranked Orteza had an easier semifinal match, dominating unheralded Chrislyn Sioson, 6-2, 6-0.
Sioson bounced back in the 12-under class, trouncing Blanche Lagrisola, 6-1, 6-0, for a slot in the championship against Monica Therese Cruz.
Cruz sealed her finals seat with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Chloe Mae Saraza.
In the boys’ 16-under division, Argil Lance Canizares, Joachim Samson, Andrew Joshue Cano and Kyle Parpan all advanced to the quarterfinals.
Canizares survived the late rally of Jed Olivarez Jr., 6-4, 3-6, 10-8; Samson whipped Jeremiah Latorre, 6-2, 6-4; Cano bested Romnee Kyle Joseph, 6-3, 6-4; and Parpan downed David Vorbeck, 6-1, 6-2.
Jerome Romualdez and Arthur Craig Pantino, meanwhile, booked semifinal trips in the boys’ 12-under.
Romualdez outlasted Mar Raphael Teng, 3-6, 6-4, 10-7, while Pantino thumped Eala, 6-1, 6-1.
Romualdez will next take on Marcus del Rosario, who had to work harder for his semifinal ticket, 6-1, 4-6, 10-7 , over Jacob Martin.
Pantino, on the other hand, will face Cenon Gonzales Jr. who beat Norman Gaspar, 6-1, 6-4.