Pantino, Eala pull thru in Phinma tennis

Filipino top bets Arthur Craig Pantino and Alex Eala went through different routes in getting into the semifinals Friday in the Phinma-PSC International Junior Tennis Championships Week 1 at Manila Polo Club clay courts.

The 17-year-old Pantino, ranked 113th in the world, crushed New Zealand’s Corban Crowther, 6-2, 6-1, to book a place in the semifinals against third seed Fumiya Yoshino of Japan.

Eala, the 13-year-old tennis wonder, displayed toughness of character beyond his years as he subdued Lu Yu-yun of Chinese Taipei, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, to also advance in the meet sponsored by Philippine Tennis Association, Philippine Sports Commission, Phinma and Tecnifibre.

Pantino also placed a foothold on the boys doubles after he and compatriot Justin Suarez barged into the finals. Pantino was back-to-back doubles champion last year aside from making the singles final in Week 1 and capturing the singles title in Week 2.

They defeated Crowther and Marcus del Rosario of the Philippines, 6-2, 6-4, to arrange a final duel against top seeds Tom Evans of Australia and Yoshino.

Evans and Yoshino bested third seeds Jean Marc Malkowski of Switzerland and Zsombor Velcz of Hungary, 6-4, 1-6, (13-11).

Eala will battle Fang WeiNing of China, who moved after pulling off an upset over second seed Saki Oyama, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

Top-seeded Janice Then of Indonesia marched to the semis as well with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Tian Fangran of China.