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Carolina Fandino won a stunning straight-set match over Shaner Gabaldon on Monday to reach the finals in the girl’s 12-under class in the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) National Age-Group Championships at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center inside the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
The 12-year-old Spanish descent overcame her rival’s late run and, under scorching morning heat, became the first finalist in the five-day, 10-category tournament organized by the reformed Phitla as part of its intense grassroots sports program since the end of the association’s leadership dispute.
Philta was suspended for two years in 2020 by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and, in 2022, received a 90-day suspension from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) due to the failure of an election. Last December, Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez was elected president in the ITF-authorized election supervised by the POC.
“I’m so thrilled and excited. This is my first time playing in this national-level competition, and I beat Shaner (Gabaldon). I lost to her in our previous two meetings,” said Fandino, a Grade 6 student at the La Salle-Zobel.
Fandino played the winner in the other half of the semifinal match between Maristella Torrecampo and Stella Maris Galeon Policarpio.
Other semifinal matches in their respective age classes are Cadee Jan Dagoon vs. Chiara Marie Bate, Vania Parawan vs. Maristella Torrecampo (girls 14-under), Stefi Aludo vs. Alecza Czarina Ilano, and Jana Jelena Nicole Diaz vs. Sandra Bautista (18-under).
In the boys’ class, playing in the semifinals are Raven Licayan vs Myla Quibin Caguiao, Eilyhia Comia vs Jacob Adam Dizon (mixed 10-under), Alexandre Coyiuto vs Khean Karl Nunez, Marcus Go vs Brendan Morales (14-under); Al Tristan Licayen vs Frank Nhiele Dilao; Miguel Iglupas vs Gavin Kraut (18-under).
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