Second seed Janella Rose Prulla turned back doubles partner Makeliah Nepomuceno, 6-3, 6-4, on Thursday to barge into the women’s singles semifinals of the 39th Philippine Columbian Association Open Tennis Championships at its Plaza Dilao indoor shell court in Paco.
The victory sent the 17-year-old Prulla into the semis where she will face off with the either Miles Vitaliano or qualifier Alexiera Santos, who were battling each other at press time.
The San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan netter is eyeing to replicate, if not eclipse, her memorable performance in the meet’s last staging three years ago when she made the finals right on her PCA Open debut.
While she lost to Marian Jade Capadocia in the finals, Prulla made history by being the youngest to make it that far as she was only 14 years old back then.
Prulla though isn’t thinking that far as she still needs to hurdle her foe in today’s semis of this tournament bankrolled by Smart/PLDT, official ball Dunlop, Manila councilor Jong Isip, San Jose Salt, W. L. Food Products, Palawan Pawnshop and Pagcor.
“I’ve seen them play and I expect it to be tough whoever between them I face in tomorrow (today),” said the youthful Hanoi Southeast Asian Games veteran.
Alexa Joy Milliam outlasted Justine Hannah Maneja, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, to likewise advance to the semis in this event backed by GAC Motors, GIMACA Convenience Store and Development Corp., Ourzen Chicken, HEAD, Ms. Rina Caniza, Mr. Benito Tan, Primo Dept Fuel Station, Kaizan Steel Trading, Cazneau, Inc. and Knaut Art Glass.
Milliam will tackle the winner of the duel between top seed and Capadocia, a seven-time winner here, and Kyle Emana.
The day before, Prulla teamed up with Nepomuceno in slamming Miles Vitaliano and Maria Patricia Lim, 6-0, 6-3, and jumping to the women’s doubles semis where they are pitted against Shaira Hope Rivera and Alyssa Bornia, a 6-0, 6-1 winner over Joanne Tan and Princess Debie Gom-os.
Capadocia and Angeline Alcala partnered in a 6-3, 7-5 triumph over Justine Hannah Maneja and France Laurine Idjao bested Kay and Mica Ella Emana, 6-3, 4-6, 10-3.