Matthew Crisosto overpowered second seed Fernando Arguelles, 6-3, 6-2, to barge into the finals of the boys’ premier division in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis circuit presented by Technifibre at Lapaz Tennis Club in Iloilo City over the weekend.
Crisosto leaned on a solid baseline game and excellent groundstrokes to stun Arguelles.
He broke Arguelles once in the opening set and then dominated him in the second to advance to the finals of the 18-and-under class of the event sanctioned by Philta headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.
The third-ranked Crisosto, who is also vying for a quarterfinal seat in the 16-U section, will face the winner of the other semifinal duel between top seed Luke Flores and Reyniel Marcellana in the six-day event hosted by Vice Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
Top seed Toni Rose Raymundo, meanwhile, cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 romp over Mae Abejo to advance to the semifinals of the girls’ 18-U against Jean Suinio, who subdued Nina Sumaculub, 6-0, 6-3. The other semifinal match pits Mary Grace Zapanta, who routed Andrea Seballos, 6-1, 6-1, against Judalee Juntarciego, who beat April Prietos, 6-1, 7-5.
Averille Sacapano, 12 and winner of three titles in last week’ stop in Capiz, gained the girls’ 14-U Final 4 with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Jovina Violata. She will next face Tracy Llamas, who turned back Amor Decendario, 6-2, 6-1.
Sacapano also reached the semifinals of the 12-U category, batting back from a set down to snatch a thrilling 4-6, 6-2, 10-7 victory over Hillary Beam Wayco. No. 3 Kiana de Asis routed Rizza Ann Cubos, 6-1, 6-1, to face Sacapano in the semifinals of the tournament backed by Technifibre as the official ball.
Top seed Andre Rodriguez and No. 2 Alekzander Po stayed on collision course in the 10-unisex as the former blanked Ujz Bautista, 4-0, 4-0, and the latter thwarted Kerwin de Asis, 5-3, 4-0, to roll into the semifinals.