Sunday, September 24, 2006 Top bets book 2nd round seats
The country’s top netter Sally Mae Siso took her first step to getting another slot for the Malaysian Tennis Circuit as she moved to the second round of the regional qualifying tournament yesterday at the Mactan Island Lawn Tennis Club in Lapu-Lapu City.
Siso, who studies at the University of San Carlos South Campus, sailed to the next round in the Girls 12-Under class after an easy 6-0, 6-0 blanking of Sharylyn Tuñacao in the 2006 Milo Junior Tennis Cup yesterday.
The veteran netter had already represented the country last year in Malaysia, where she won five gold and one silver medals. The Malaysian tournament is divided into three legs and is played in three cities.
Next level
Also advancing to the second round through the same score are Louise Querubin of Lapu-Lapu City, who trounced Bianca Cenabre and Antique’s Marian Capadocia, who booted out Shemar Quiniahan.
In the Girls 14-Under division, Jella Capadocia barged into the next level with a 6-0, 7-6 win over Jennifer Jaca.
John Arnel Go, on the other hand, who is seeded second in the Boys 14-Under, survived Paolo Cenabre, 7-5, 6-1 to advance.
Other top bets, Boys 14 top-seed Bernardine “Niño” Siso and Boys 12 leader Jacob Lagman enjoyed a bye on the first day and will be seeing action today. The two also saw action in Malaysia last year.
Niño won two golds, two silvers and two bronzes, while Lagman, who studies at St. Benedict Learning Center, won in all singles events and two doubles titles in the three legs.
The Visayas regional eliminations is being staged in cooperation with the MILTC through its top honcho Vic Ragasa and is organized by the Children’s Tennis Workshop with support from Adidas, Prince tennis equipment and Philippine Tennis Association Region-7 vice president John Pages.
The Visayas champion will compete with other top netters from Luzon and Mindanao in the national finals on Oct. 7-8.
The grand prize in the nationals is an all-expenses paid trip to Malaysia for the top two netters in the boys’ and girls’ 14-Under, 12-Under and the unisex 10-Under. (MCB)
