MANILA -- Top seed Angeline Alcala of Lucena City defeated Glydel Guevarra of Iriga City, 6-2, 6-7 (3), 10-6, on Wednesday to reach the girls’ 12-under semifinal round of the Andrada Cup at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
The victory set up Alcala against Airies Jean Tanawan, who walked over third seed Angelyn Atos.
The 11-year-old Alcala may have lost her focus in the second set, but she was able to regain her composure in the super tie-break set to prevail.
“Nagmamadali, gusto agad tapusin ang laro. Buti na lang bumalik yung focus nya dun sa tie-break set (She was in a hurry to finish the match. Good thing she regained her focus in the tie-break set),” said coach Rene Bunag, who has been training Alcala for the past two years.
Angeline Alcala in action. (Photo courtesy of Alcala family)
Alcala has improved her game since she began competing in the juniors circuit in the summer of 2017. She has collected a number of trophies in the 12-under and 14-under categories.
Alcala, a Grade 5 student at the International School for Better Beginnings, bagged the 12-under and 14-under titles in the PSC-Philta tournament in Subic last December.
Seeded No. 2 in the 14-under category, Alcala will meet top seed Kryshana Brazal in the championship round on January 5.
Meanwhile, Angeline’s elder sister, Angelica, will be up against Jhastine Red Ballado in the second round of the 16-under category.
The top-ranked Angelica drew a first-round bye while Ballado walked over Virvien Bejosano.
Other first-round winners were third seed Patricia Lim over Angela Mae Soriano, 6-0, 6-0; fourth seed Althea Fay Ong over Patricia Atis, 6-0, 6-2; and Anna Laura De Myer over Nizzy Pacana, 6-0, 6-0.
Second seed Gabby Zoleta, also from Lucena City, also had a first-round bye and will meet Ysabelle Uy, who walked over Angela Valdez, on Friday. (PNA)
