Jarata gains semis; Balce sustains run

Andrei Jarata. FACEBOOK PHOTO

ANDREI Jarata remained on track to reach his ultimate goal in the 1st Philta Presidents Cup Age Group Tennis Championships.

The hard hitter from Agoo, La Union, set up an expected semifinal nail-biter with Axl John Gonzaga in the boys’ 12 and under category after prevailing over No. 8 seed Anya Rayson Simone Uy, 6-3, 6-1, yesterday at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Should he survive the fourth-ranked Gonzaga, the top-seeded Jarata could face either No. 2 Edgardo Manuel Angara or Alejandro Barrientos in the finals of the tournament organized by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Mik Balce moved closer to accomplishing his goal of capturing two titles after going all the way to the championship despite wearing an underdog tag in the boys’ 18 and under.

The 16-year-old from Valle Verde in Pasig will meet top bet Justin Suarez for the trophy and has also earned a finals appearance in the boys’ 16-under where the Grade 10 Ateneo student has been ranked at the top of the field.

No. 2 Marcus Del Rosario and fourth seed Nio Tria tangle in the semifinals for the right to play against Balce. Tria, just like Balce, is also craving for two titles after sealing a championship trip in the boys’ 14 and under at the expense of Daniel Estanislao, 6-0, 6-1.

In the girls’ 16 and under, Mikaela Vicencio took the easy route to the finals after scoring a 6-0, 6-0, triumph over Francesca Marie Cruz.

Vicencio is bound to take on the semifinal survivor between third-ranked Macie Carlos and No. 2 Miles Vitaliano in the meet sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Top seed Brent So arranged a semifinal face-off with Lukas Yupangco in the 10-under unisex category where Joshua Diva and Mariel Jarata are vying in the other semis match.

Kryshana Brazal reached the girls’ 12-under finals with a walkover triumph over Sarah Zhang.