Orteza, Manduriao set up semis showdown

MANILA, Philippines - Second seed Isabella Orteza and No. 6 Erika Mae Manduriao came away with victories in varying fashions to arrange a semifinal showdown in the girls side of the Mariposa Foundation Cup Presented by the Philippine Tennis Academy ATF 14-Under Series at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Orteza, who struggled past Japanese Saeka Nakamura, 7-6(5), 7-5, in the second round, overwhelmed No. 5 Jade Charito Capadocia with a superb all-around game to fashion out a 6-0, 6-1 rout while Manduriao pulled off another three-setter, repulsing fourth seed Maia Balce, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.

Meanwhile, Korean Soomin Kim, who booted out top seed Roxanne May Resma, 6-2, 6-2, in the Last 16 stage, sustained her form and blanked Samantha Um, 6-0, 6-0, to set a clash with No. 7 Japanese Ri Sumire for the other finals berth in the tournament sponsored by the PTA and backed by ATP Head as official balls.

Sumire turned back third seed Jenni Celine Dizon, 6-4, 6-1, in the other quarters match in the event which stakes ATF ranking points and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Albert Lim Jr., on the other hand, cruised to the semis in the boys category, scoring a walkover win over Angelo Gonzales. But the fancied Letran freshman faces a tough challenge in the semis after No. 3 Park Ji-Hun of Korea whipped Jerome Romualdez, 6-0, 6-0.

Disputing the other finals berth are second seed Daniel Villaseñor and Korean Chung Yun-seong with the former stamping his class over Fel Lopez, 6-2, 6-0, and the latter beating fourth ranked Eric Olivarez Jr., 6-2, 6-1.

The winners will earn 300 ATF points with the runners-up getting 200 points and the third and fourth placers 150 and 120 points, respectively.

In the playoff round, where ATF points are also at stake, Resma defeated Dominique Ong, 6-1, 6-2, Monica Cruz held off Chrislyn Sioson, 6-2, 6-4, Yada Satona thwarted Alexie Santos, 7-6, 6-4, and Nakamura Saeka beat Janelle Llavore, 6-0, 6-1.