Janel Troy Pintor had to go through the proverbial eye of a needle to earn the right to face top-seed Bernardine “Niño” Siso in the semifinals of the boys 18 under of the ongoing 16th Gullas Cup at the Cebu Country Club (CCC).
Pintor survived Juniel Espinosa in their quarterfinals duel that ended in a super tiebreaker, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 13-11.
In contrast, Siso, who is playing in his first summer tournament, advanced to the semis with a 6-1, 6-0 rout of Ariel Jay Torion, in the round of eight.
Siso had taken time off from competitions to concentrate on his nursing studies at the University of San Carlos (USC).
The other semifinals match will feature Franklin Encarnacion and Dan Eldred Cinco.
Encarnacion, who is home for the summer from his studies in UP-Dilliman, crushed Mark Amodia, 6-0, 6-2, in the quarterfinals. He won via walkover against Francis Jay Otida in the second round.
Cinco, on the other hand, advanced via a 6-0, 6-3 bashing of Joseph Grel Tallo in the quarters and Peter Paul Minoza by the same score in the second round.
Semifinalists in the boys 16 under are Francis Eduard Parangan who will face Marc Norman Enriquez and Jarryd Laurel who will go up against John Michael Necesario.
In the quarterfinals, Parangan whipped Christian Dale Soon, 6-1, 6-3; Enriquez booted out Dwayne Tarculas, 6-1, 6-2; Laurel demolished Ivan Olo, 6-2, 6-3 and Necesario drubbed Alfred Yaranon Jr., 6-1, 6-1.
In the boys 12 under, Jan Godfrey Seno and Arthur Craig “Igi” Diaz Pantino are again headed for a titular collision after grabbing semifinals ticket.
For that to happen though, Seno will have to get past Zudie Karl Balundo first while Pantino had to beat Gener Francis Lambayan.
In the round of eight, Seno beat Derek Tabotabo; Balundo blanked Hugo Vhon Tudtud, 6-0, 6-0; Lambayan outgunned Clyde Dujali, 6-2, 6-4 and Pantino blanked Francis Joshua Escobia.
Advancing to the girls 14-under semifinals are Crissianne Issa Lucero Kintanar vs. Carissa Miflores and Cherry Mae Toledo vs. Jana Pages.
Of the four, only Miflores had to fight her way from the second round while the rest all received byes.
Miflores out-dueled Berlle Buanghug, 6-1, 6-0, and Quene Tunacao, 6-2, 6-0.
Girls 12 under semifinalists are Alexie Santos, Shyne Villareal, Allysa Mae Bornia and Camille So.