Alforque, Lazaro book finals seats

Living up to their rankings, Venz Alforque and Jules Lazaro bested separate rivals Thursday and arranged a title duel in the 29th Andrada Cup age-group tennis tournament at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The top-seeded Alforque, who hails from Cebu, trounced Darrylon Alano, 6-2, 6-4, while the No. 2 Alano, pride of Malabon, downed Genemar Gerrick Zuno, 6-3, 6-1, in the semifinals of the boys’ 18-under.

They will dispute the title Friday.

“All I know is that he (Alforque) is the top seed and he’s a hard-hitter and that he’s also entered in the 16-under, a double entry,” said the 16-year-old Lazaro.

In the girls’ 18-under class, top seed Melanie Faye Dizon beat Virvien Bejosano, 6-0, 6-2, to arrange a semifinal date with Gab Zoleta, a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Bianca Pica.

Also in the semifinals are Jhastine Red Ballado, who outlasted No. 4 Trace Llamas, 6-2, 2-6, 10-8, and Althea Fay Ong, who stunned No. 2 Angelica Alacala, 6-2, 6-1.

The boys’ 14-under semifinals pit No. 1 Marc Andrei Jarata versus No. 5 Jude Hidaldo and No. 3 Exequiel Jucutan versus No. 2 Axl Lajon Gonzaga.
In the girls’ side finals are 1-2 seeds Khyshana Brazal and Angeline Alacala.

Semifinalists in the boys’ 12-under are Lukas Yupangco vs Darwin Cosca and Sherwin Rey Nuguit vs Brent So. In the girls’ division, they are (Angeline) Alacala vs Airies Jean Tanawan and Krisha Mae Bolilan vs Marielle Jarata.

Vying for the 10-under unisex crown are Kean Sebastian Enriquez and Kriz Roque Lim. Semifinal matches in the boys’ and girls’ 16-under were being played as of presstime.