Youngsters shock vets in Verizon Cup

Up-and-coming tennis players Kanani Ashraf and Audrey Motto defeated netters twice their age to win the championship of the 2nd Verizon Cup women’s doubles 4.0 division last Monday at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

Ashraf and Motto grew up overnight, tennis-wise, after overcoming the challenge of Ligaya Paculanang and Cleofe Santos in straight sets.

The youngsters got into a groove early and easily won the first set. But Paculanang and Santos were not about to give the title on a silver platter, fighting tooth-and-nail to force a third and deciding set.

But there was just too much zing on Ashraf and Motto’s game that evening and the duo went on to top the veterans in a score of 6-1, 7-5.

In other women’s results, Paculanang and Santos didn’t really went home empty handed Monday after the tandem advanced to the finals of the open division following their 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 conquest of Motto and Nelia Luna. They will face the top-seeded pair of Young Son and Letty Jones in the finals.

The championship of the women’s 3.0 would have No. 1 seeds Agnes Salazar and Minako Watanabe battling Tinian residents Ellen Uy and Emily Kwan.

There was also plenty of action in the men’s draw Monday. In the 4.5 division, Boyet Minor and Renato Espanola advanced to the semifinals after outplaying Buddy Garote and Nanding Cajigan 6-1, 6-4.

Their next opponents will be tourney surprise Peter Loyola and Hector Gutierrez. Waiting in the wings after securing a finals berth the other day is the team of Lope Padilla and Nicolas Son.

Also securing a place in the finals is the pair of Jess Pacheco and Tony Santos in men’s 4.0. The duo advanced after dismantling Boboy Sergio and Alfredo Quiroz 7-5, 6-3.

Joining them in the finals will be the winner of the Ronnie Lacbayo-Nanding Cajigan and Mohammad Ashraf-Joe Motto, Sr. tussle. Lacbayo and Cajigan incidentally advanced to the semis after hurdling Art Lopez and Gutierrez 6-1, 6-4 also Monday.

In the men’s 3.0, Tinian netters Doy Ligan and Edwin Mocorro beat Massimo Flouti and Eric Robinson 6-1, 6-0. Next up is the semis where they will play the pair of Father Ryan Jimenez and Toshi Beltau.

Baby Malayil and Noel Manalang are already in the finals after vanquishing John Jenkins and giant Bobby Nato 6-0, 6-4 also last Monday.

There was no men’s open matches on Monday. But Padilla and Loyola are itching to play in the finals, where they are awaiting the winner of the match between top seeds Faheem Ebrahim and Roy Pangelinan and the rookie team of Garote and Richard Asuncion.