SEMIS BOUND. Team Philippines makes it to the semifinal round of the Billie Jean Cup Juniors Asia/Oceania pre-qualifying tournament at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts in Colombo after straight-set wins on Thursday (Feb. 22, 2024). In photo are (from left) Avegail Joy Ansay, Jana Jelena Nicole Diaz, coach Bobie Angelo and Stefi Marithe Aludo. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – The Philippines scored a 2-0 victory over Singapore on Thursday to reach the semifinal round of the Billie Jean Cup Juniors Asia/Oceania pre-qualifying at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts in Colombo.
Jana Jelena Nicole Diaz outplayed Abriez Marie Rose Wong, 6-3, 6-3, while Stefi Marithe Aludo downed Sophie Ashley Chua, 7-5, 6-0, to arrange a Final Four showdown with top seed Kyrgyzstan on Friday.
The Philippines, ranked seventh, prevailed over Bhutan (3-0), Syria (3-0) and Lebanon (3-0) in Group E, while Kyrgzstan demolished Oman (3-0) and Iraq (3-0) in Group A.
Turkmenistan, which clobbered No. 2 Jordan (3-0) and Pakistan (2-1) in Group B, will battle No. 3 Sri Lanka, which beat Qatar (3-0) and Maldives (3-0) in Group C, in the other semifinal match of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) team competition for players aged 16 years and under.
The winners will advance to the final qualifying round to be hosted by Kazakhstan next month.
"I'm happy with the way I’m playing, I’m getting better every match," Aludo, 15, said in an online interview on Friday.
Born and raised in Trento, Agusan del Sur, Aludo joined the ITF Juniors Circuit last year and is currently the country's top U16 player,
She won the prestigious PCA Open Juniors last year.
Diaz, also 15 and who hails from Bacoor, Cavite, managed to adjust with the clay court surface.
“I was uneasy at first but slowly, I was able to adjust. I prefer the PCA court surface because I can run well there,” Diaz said.
Diaz’s previous achievements include the singles title in the ATF U16 in Ipoh, Malaysia; U14 crown in the PCA Open Juniors; and mixed doubles title with Tristan Licayan in the Batang Pinoy National Championships.
Despite playing in just her first international tournament, Avegail Joy Ansay did well.
She teamed up with Aludo against Bhutan and Lebanon, and with Diaz against Syria.
“I’m happy, it’s a good experience for me,” the 15-year-old Ansay from Santa Rosa, Laguna said.
She has won U14 titles at the Cebuana Lhuillier and Palawan Pawnshop Circuits.
Bobie Angelo, a former Philippine Davis Cup team member who returned to the country after coaching in Japan for 23 years, was tasked by the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) to handle the U16 girls’ team.
“I’m proud of these girls. They really performed well. But they have to work even harder in the semis against Kyrgyzstan, which is a tough opponent. We will fight," said the 53-year-old Angelo, also a head coach in the Philippine Tennis Academy in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
All three girls are studying at De La Salle-Zobel, making Pereme Jeremiah Alina one proud coach.
“Congratulations to my players for their outstanding performance! Your dedication, teamwork, and skill have brought you one step closer to your goal. Animo!” said Alina, son of Perfecto Alina Jr. who once played for the Davis Cup squad, too, and was a former national coach. (PNA)
