JOSHUA Kinaadman hacked out a shock 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over SEA Games doubles gold medalist Casey Alcantara to barge into the semifinal round of the men’s singles in the PPS-PEPP Dagitab Festival Open Tennis Championship at the City of Naga Tennis Courts in Cebu Friday.
The University of the East mainstay from Lapu Lapu City, ranked 11th in the 64-player draw, rode on his 7-6(3), 6-0 victory over Kef Gamana and a 6-4, 6-4 reversal over No. 5 Fritz Verdad to topple Alcantara, rallying from a set down with a strong charge in the next two to seal a showdown with second seed Jeson Patrombon.
Patrombon, who teamed up with Alcantara to win the men’s doubles gold in the recent SEAG, stopped No. 12 Norman Enriquez from Pardo, Cebu, 6-0, 6-3, to stay on course for a title collision with top seed Johnny Arcilla, who dispatched Rodolfo Barquin Jr., 6-1, 6-1, in their quarters clash in the event put up by Palawan Pawnshop Palawan Express Pera Padala headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro and presented by Dunlop.
Enriquez earlier bundled out Mark Alcoseba, member of the SEAG gold medal soft tennis team, 1-6, 7-6(5), 10-7, in the third round of the event held in conjunction with the province’s Dagitab Festival (of Lights) celebrations.
Arcilla will next face No. 10 Arthur Pantino, who upended third ranked Vicente Anasta 6-1, 6-2, in another upset that marked Day 4 of the tournament which also featured the juniors division and sanctioned by by Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.
Alcantara and Patrombon, meanwhile, disposed of Kennex Abadia and Bo Alburo, 6-1, 6-3, to lead the quarterfinal cast in the men’s doubles that includes Barquin-Kyle Sinson, Alcoseba-Kinaadman, John Accion-AJ Alejandre, Vicente and Rollie Anasta, Arcilla-Pantino, Jayson Benitez-Hilbert San Jose, and Lazaro-Verdad.
In men’s 40s singles, Jonathan Largo stunned top seed Celestino Solon, 8-6, to seal a semis faceoff with Jayson Benitez, who routed John Lundqvuist, 6-1, while No. 2 Adonis Lominoque edged Roy Tan, 8-7(9), to arrange a duel with Menandro Econg, who blasted third ranked Roy Tabotabo, 8-3.
