Reyes, Pague nail PCA-ATF semis spots

FILIPINO-ITALIAN Marc Reyes and teenager Jose Maria Pague scored contrasting triumphs to barge into the semifinals of the Philippine Columbian Association Open Cebuana Lhuillier-ATF Tour at PCA indoor shell-clay courts.

Reyes, the lefty former practice player for the national Davis Cup team, downed 19-year-old La Salle hotshot Argil Lance Canizares, 6-3, 6-3, in just an hour and 26 minutes.
Earlier, the 15-year-old Pague went through the wringer to outlast former Davis Cupper Elbert Anasta 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) to also reach the Final Four of the tournament sanctioned by the Asian Tennis Federation and Philippine Lawn Tennis Association.

“I was very anxious in the first set so I decided to slow down and be patient in the next two sets, said Pague, a standout from Zamboanga Sibugay National High School. “I just tried to hit the ball and extend the rallies.

The 27-year-old Reyes never faltered against Canizares, who debuted with an impressive win over India’s Medhir Goyal, 6-1, 6-3.

Reyes will play the winner of the quarterfinal match between PCA Open champion Patrick John Tierro and Rolando Ruel Jr. while Pague set up a clash with either Johnny Arcilla, the multiple PCA Open champion, and Ronard Joven. Marc Anthony Reyes