Alforque, Lazaro dispute Andrada Cup crown

Venz Alforque and Jules Lazaro played true to form and blasted their respective rivals to advance to the finals of the boys’ 18-under class in the 29th Andrada Cup age-group tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Alforque, the top seed bet from Cebu, posted a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Darrylon Alano while the second-ranked Lazaro from Malabon overpowered Genemar Zuno, 6-3, 6-1.

They will dispute the title today, the final day of the country’s longest-running grassroots tennis tournament put up by former Philippine Lawn Tennis Association president Salvador Andrada.

Lazaro, who turned 16 last October, was first to advance to the finals then spent time watching Alforque, a player he had never seen before, in action.

“All I know is that he’s the top seed and he’s a hard-hitter and that he’s also entered in the 16-U, a double entry,” said Lazaro of Alforque.

In the girls’ 18-U class, top seed Melanie Faye Dizon defeated Virvien Bejosano, 6-0, 6-2 to arrange a semis date with Gab Zoleta, a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Bianca Pica.

Also in the semis are Jhastine Red Ballado, who outlasted No. 4 Trace Llamas, 6-2, 2-6, 10-8, and Althea Fay Ong, who stunned No. 2 Angelica Alacala, 6-2, 6-1.

In the 14-U class, advancing to the boys’ semis are No. 1 Marc Andrei Jarata versus No. 5 Jude Hidaldo and No. 3 Exequiel Jucutan versus No. 2 Axl Lajon Gonzaga. In the girls’ side, in the finals are the top two seeds, Khyshana Brazal and Angeline Alacala.

Semifinalists in the boys’ 12-U are Lukas Yupangco vs Darwin Cosca and Sherwin Rey Nuguit vs Brent So. In the girls’ division, they are (Angeline) Alacala vs Airies Jean Tanawan and Krisha Mae Bolilan vs Marielle Jarata.

Vying for the 10-U unisex crown are Kean Sebastian Enriquez and Kriz Roque Lim. Semis matches in the boys’ and girls’ 16-U were still being played as of presstime.