SOUTH Cotabato’s Janus Ringia outplayed Jules Lazaro, 6-2, 2-6, 12-0 on Wednesday to reach the boys’ 18-under semifinal in the 28th Andrada Cup Junior Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
The victory set up the top-seeded player from Koronadal City against No. 7 Jake Martin, who pulled off a 7-6 (2), 6-3 upset win over third seed Gabriel Tiamson.
Fifth seed Emmanuel Fuellas also reached the semifinal after demolishing Sam Mamaril, 6-0, 6-0. Fuellas will meet the winner between No. 4 Jeremiah Macias III and Aljohn Talatayod.
Talatayod, seeded fourth in the 16-under category, had earlier booked a semis berth after posting a 6-3, 6-3 victory over No. 6 Angelo Aparte. Talatayod’s next match will be against top seed Janus Ringia, who walked over No. 5 Jan Harold Trillanes.
In other matches, second seed Marcus del Rosario defeated No. 7 Athan Arejola, 6-2, 6-2, while third seed Jose Antonio Tria downed No. 8 Jules Lazaro, 6-1, 6-2, to forge a semifinal showdown in the Group 1 tournament supported by former Philta vice president Manuel Misa of Altamar Shipping, Thaddeus Sporting Goods and official ball Babolat.
Meanwhile, top seed Gennifer Pagente of Cagayan de Oro City lived up to her billing, winning her matches to lead the semifinalists in the girls’ 18-under and 16-under categories.
In the 18-under division, Pagente routed Lila Salvacion, 6-0, 6-0, to advance against Rafa Villanueva, who walked over Miles Vitaliano. Also advancing were Crystal Mildwaters and Bea Gomez.
In the 16-under class, Pagente defeated No. 8 Justine Maneja, 6-4, 6-1, to set up a semis meeting with No. 3 Micaella Vicencio, a 6-0, 6-1 winner over No. Patricia Lim.
The other semis match will pit No. 5 Macie Carlos, a 2-6, 6-4, 10-3 winner over Miles Vitaliano, against Crystal Mildwaters, who scored a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Bettina Catoto.
In the boys’ 14-under class, No. 1 John David Velez beat No. 5 Jan Harold Trillanes, 6-1, 6-3 to advance in the semifinal round against John Allen Rombawa, who walked over Marco Macalintal.
Second seed Ruper Tortal outclassed No. 8 Axl Lajon Gonzaga, 6-0, 6-1, to arrange a semis duel with third seed Miguel Luis Vicencio, a 6-0, 6-1 winner over No. 7 Prince Luis Salvacion.
No. 1 Andrei Jarata, No. 2 Samuel Nuguit, No. 4 Axl John Gonzaga and No. 6 Exequiel Jucutan are the semifinalists in the boys’ 12-under category.