University of the Philippines’ Patricia Velez and Nica Alanis forged a "Battle of Katipunan" with Melanie Dizon and unranked Jana Pages of Ateneo as the neighborhood rivals barged into the semifinals of the PPS-PEPP Actifit National Students Open at the KCDA Actifit Sports Center in Valenzuela City last weekend.
The top seeded Velez routed National Uís Annie Tumanda, 6-1, 6-1, repulsed Danna Abad, also of NU, 7-6(2), 3-6, 10-5, before subduing La Salleís Arianne Nillasca, 6-4, 6-3, to clinch the first Final Four slot in womenís singles of the inaugural all-students tournament presented by MCF Global and backed by Kap. Eli Demafelis.
The No. 2 Dizon ripped St. Paul Pasigís Jada Custodio, 6-1, 6-0, blasted teammate Bettina Bautista, 6-2, 6-3, then eased out USTís Ma. Patricia Lim, 6-3, 6-2, to seal a semis duel with the fifth-ranked Alanis in the lower half of the 64-player draw of the event sanctioned the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Tobyís, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.
Alanis survived Ateneoís Nicole Amistad, 2-6, 6-3, 10-8, then toppled No. 4 Mikaela Vicencio of La Salle, 6-3, 7-5, to stay in the hunt while Pages worked her way past UPís Lucy Inalvez, 6-1, 6-1, stunned teammate and No. 5 Carmen So, 6-1, 6-1, then turned back Woodrose Schoolís Nina Sandejas, 3-6, 6-2, 10-8, to storm into the Last 4 against the fancied Velez.
Two Ateneo bets also moved into the menís singles semis with No. 5 Marcen Gonzales stopping USTís Clarence Cabahug, 7-6(7), 6-1, for a clash with 14th-ranked Vince EJ Tugade of NU, who shocked top seed Jeremiah Macias III of Perpetual Help, 6-3, 6-1, in the Last 16 then scored a walkover win over Colegio San Agustinís Antonio Tria.
No. 7 Gabriel Tiamson, also from ADMU, posted three straight-set wins to earn a crack against La Salle-Greenhillsí No. 13 Eurydice Gaspar, who bundled out fourth-ranked Dave Mosqueda of UST, 4-6, 6-4, 10-5, in the second round before whipping ADMUís JJ Lavore, 6-1, 6-2, in the quarters.
Making it to the semis of the menís doubles are Lyceum of the Phl Uís Elvin Geluz and Stefano Gurria, AJ Alejandre and Rucel Cero and fellow NU mainstays Vaughn Codilla and Jude Ceniza and USTís Clarence Cabahug and Mosqueda, while spots in the womenís doubles semis will be disputed when action in the three-weekend tournament resumes today (Friday), including hostilities in the womenís and menís team events.
For details, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.