Daily Tribune
FRANCIS Casey Alcantara displays his form en route to posting a 6-0, 6-2 over John Kendrick Bona to reach the semifinals of the Philta Men’s Open at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center on Friday.
Photograph courtesy of Philta
Francis Casey Alcantara eliminated sixth seed John Kendrick Bona, 6-0, 6-2, to reach the semifinal round of the Philta Men’s Open at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center on Friday.
The 15th-seed Alcantara, who ousted No. 3 John Benedict Aguilar in the Round of 16, will face Eric Jed Olivarez Jr. in the Last Four that is being held at press time.
Olivarez, the No. 2 seed, triumphed over fifth seed and 2025 Gentry Open champion Arthur Craig “Iggy” Pantino, 6-3, 6-1.
Top seed Alberto “AJ” Lim Jr. and No. 8 Ronard Joven registered contrasting wins to advance in the first Grand Slam-level event supported by Tecnifibre and Philippine Sports Commission.
Lim, a four-time PCA Open champion, cruised past No. 7 Nilo Ledama, 6-0, 6-2.
Joven, on the other hand, survived No. 13 Lance Fernandez, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.
In the doubles category, Vicente Elberto Anasta and Rolly John Saga shocked top seeds Alcantara and Joven, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the Final Four.
Anasta and Saga will meet Noel Damian and Pantino, who won over Evan Bacalso and Al-Zayeed Baid, 6-4, 6-2.
Second seeds Lim and Olivarez downed siblings Loucas and Lance Fernandez, 6-4, 6-2, to advance against Elvin Geluz and Raymund Goco, who outlasted Aguilar and Ledama, 4-6, 6-3, 12-10.
The singles champion will receive 1000 Philta ranking points and P350,000, while the doubles champion will get P80,000.
