Balce claims semifinal spot

MIK Balce easily hurdled the last stumbling block to the finals, whipping Rafaan Kabir, 6-0, 6-1, yesterday in the 1st Philta Presidents Cup Age Group Tennis Championships.

Balce’s biggest test comes when the unseeded 16-year-old from Ateneo plays the winner between No. 2 seed Justin Suarez and Stephan Lhuillier in the boys’ 18-and-under finals at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The 15-year-old Suarez routed Jacob Peter Paulino, 6-1, 6-1, to set up the semifinal clash with the 16-year-old Lhuillier, son of tennis “godfather” Jean Henri Lhuillier.

In the boys’ 12-under division, top seed Andrei Jarata of Agoo, La Union, overwhelmed Lovewin Sean Marinas, 6-0, 6-0, to arrange a quarterfinal duel with No. 8 seed Anya Rayson Simone Uy.

In the lower end of the draw, second seed Edgardo Manuel Angara also gained the quarterfinals against unseeded Sean Andrei Bernardo after downing Lukas Yupangco, 6-1,
6-0, in the tournament sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Top seed Camille So reached the girls’ 18-U semifinals with a walkover win against Errin Dela Cruz.

A daughter of former Davis Cupper Roland, So faces Gabby Sandejas, who crushed Ella Mae Bayno, 6-0, 6-1. Bea De Ocampo bested Kiara Aroza, 6-2, 6-1, to also gain the final four.

In the girls’ 16-U of the weeklong tournament held in honor of past presidents of the Philippine Tennis Association, Nina Sandejas trounced Bea Gomez, 6-0, 6-1, to forge a clash with second seed Miles Vitaliano.

Also moving on to the next round were Miguel Luis Vicencio (boys’ 16-U), Noelle Beatrice So (girls’ 12-U) and top seed Brent So, who tripped No. 7 Quinto Poblador, 4-0, 4-1, to gain the 10-U unisex finals.