Chris Prulla downs Claudio Canlas to reach Under-18 semifinals

CHRIS Justine Prulla put on a solid performance and cut Claudio Canlas down to size, 6-1, 6-3, on Sunday set up a semifinal showdown with Paolo So in the premier 18-and-under class of the fifth PSC-Philta National age-group tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The 16-year-old Prulla, No. 8 in the Philta 16-18 ranking, advances to a match against So, who gained from the no-show of top seed Bryan Otico.

So earlier scored a 6-3, 6-1 win over Aidyll Ignacio, who ousted No. 8 Jeremiah Macias in the first round.

No. 4 Frances Santiago whipped Mae Perez, 6-0, 6-0, to reach the quarterfinal round of the girls’ 18-under category.

Lou Rosales thwarted Jackie Tan Ho, 6-4, 6-2, and Andrea Amistad scored a walkover win over Katrina Peñaflor to join top seed Dominique Ong, No. 2 Colleen Sioson and third seed Shaira Rivera, who all drew byes.

Ong, Sioson and Santiago likewise cruised to 6-0, 6-0 romps over Jessica Zhang, Bianca Catoto and Mikaela Vicencio, respectively, to reach the Round of Eight in the 16-under class. The other quarterfinalists are Bettina Bautista, Nikka Alanis, Dizon, Amistad and Rafaella Villanueva.

Bautista whipped Blanche Lagrisola, 6-1, 6-2; Alanis clobbered Patricia Corporal, 6-1, 6-1; Dizon eased past Tan Ho, 6-2, 6-0; Amistad foiled Rivera, 6-4, 6-4; and Villanueva toppled Alexis Bangayan.

The top-seeded Vicencio, meanwhile, cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Danielle Poblador to lead the quarterfinalists in the 14-under division that includes No. 2 Miles Vitaliano, third seed Maxine Martin, No. 4 Lagrisola, Corporal, Aubrey Rosales, Gabrielle Zoleta and Denise Bernardo.

Vitaliano thumped Patricia Lim, 6-1, 6-2; Martin got past Zhang, 6-2, 6-4; Lagrisola booted out Jhastine Ballado, 6-4 6-2; Corporal outplayed Jenalyn Rigos, 6-1, 6-2; Rosales subdued Sacha Singh, 6-1, 6-1; Zoleta smothered Julia Ignacio, 6-0, 6-0; and Bernardo outsteadied Heather Miller.

Top seed Alexander Eala rolled to an easy 6-0, 6-0 win over Julia Ignacio to reach the girls’ 12-U section quarterfinals along with Vitaliano, Ballado, Zoleta, Justine Maneja, Macie Carlos, Bernardo and Kryshana Brazal.

Vitalino routed Sarah Zhang, 6-1, 6-0; Ballado won over Patricia Lim, 6-1, 6-1; Zoleta dominated Bettina Catoto, 6-1, 6-3; Maneja ripped Lila Salvacion, 6-3, 6-1; Carlos trampled Sacha Singh, 6-1, 6-0; Bernardo survived Jenalyn Rigos, 7-5, 1-6(10-6); and Brazal ripped Alexie Jarata, 6-0, 6-0 in the tournament sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, held under the auspices of the Philippine Tennis Association and backed by Asiatraders Corp. and Dunlop Fort All Court Balls.