By Kristel Satumbaga
Axl Lajon Gonzaga barged into the semifinals of two age brackets yesterday to spearhead the day’s victors in the 30th Andrada Cup Age Group Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Gonzaga, who will turn 14 next month, first showed his might in the boys 14-under class where he is the top seed by besting eighth pick Joshua Diva, 6-0, 6-2, before returning a few hours later to defeat No. 7 Manolo Angara, 5-7, 7-5, 10-6, in the boys 16-under division.
The twin victories set up Gonzaga a semis meeting with Exequiel Jucutan in the 14-under and 10th seed Marco Macalintal in the 16-under.
The unseeded Jucutan upset fifth pick Samuel Reane Nuguit, 6-2, 6-2, while Macalital clipped Stephen Paul Catipon, 6-2, 6-2.
Ma. Patricia Lim and Jhastine Red Ballado, meanwhile, arranged a semis date in the girls 18-under after crushing their foes.
Lim routed Gabby Sandejas, 6-2, 6-1, while Ballado trounced Sydney Bush, 6-1, 6-0.
Meanwhile, unheralded John David Velez stunned second seed Jude Hidalgo, 6-4, 6-2, to move into the boys 16-under semis. He awaits the winner between Exequiel Jucutan and Rupert Tortal.
Second seed Kriz Roque Lim also led the boys 12-under semifinalists a 6-0, 6-0 win over Reign Maravilla. Fifth seed Samuel Salazar downed No. 3 John Kendrick Bona, 6-1, 6-0, while fourth pick Kean Sebastian Enriquez toppled Gavin Kraut, 6-1, 6-0.
