Milliam, Lim gain semis berths in PCA Open tennis

SECOND SEED Alexa Joy Milliam rallied past Jufe Ann Coco, 6-7 (2-7), 6-1, 6-0, to reach the women’s singles semifinal of the 40th Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open at the indoor shell court in Plaza Dilao, Paco, Manila on Thursday.

Banking on her powerful shots, the 17-year-old pride of La Carlota town in Negros Occidental regained her form to claim the next two sets and the match.

Milliam, a Grade 12 student from Doña Hortencia Salas Benedicto National High School, will gun for a final seat against unseeded Theniel Madis.

The 15-year-old Madis from M’lang town in North Cotabato whipped Elizabeth Abarquez, 6-1, 6-2 in the third round.

Incidentally, Milliam defeated Madis in the Rina Cañiza Women’s Open final last February.

Meanwhile, No. 1 Marian Capadocia demolished Miles Vitaliano, 6-0, 6-0, to boost her title campaign in the tournament sponsored by Gimaca Hotel and Boutique.

She will face unseeded Cebuano Tiffany Nocos in the Final Four. Nocus beat Rachel Velez, 6-1, 6-3.

The seven-time Capadocia lost to teenager Jenaila

Rose Prulla in the final last year.

In the men’s division, second seed Alberto Lim Jr. prevailed over No. 9 Jed Olivarez, 6-4, 6-2, to advance to the semifinal round against Noel Damian.

The sixth-ranked Damian outplayed John Benedict Aguilar, 6-4, 7-6 (5).

The other semifinal match will feature wild card Xavier Calvelo against Andre Ilagan.

The Us-based Calvelo scored a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory over Jude Michael Padao of Digos City, Davao del Sur, while Ilagan struggled past Nilo Ledama, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

The men’s singles champion will receive PHP300,000 while PHP100,000 will go to the women’s singles champion in the event supported by Mayor Ben-sayeed

Muksan (Siasi, Sulu), Manila District 3 Councilor Ernesto “Jong” Isip Jr., Mary Grace Foods, W.L. Foods, Legalas Trading, FC Home Center, East West Customs Brokerage and Asiatraders Corp., the exclusive distributor of Dunlop ball.*(pna)