Rolando Bregente delivered two dominant victories, while Grace Quintanilla survived a grueling test as the top-ranked men’s and women’s seeds advanced to the semifinals of the NGAP Match Play Championship on Thursday at the rain-softened Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac.
Last week’s Stroke Play champions, Lisa Sarines and Jet Hernandez, endured contrasting fortunes on the tree-lined layout. Sarines eliminated her twin sister, Mona, to keep her title hopes alive, while Hernandez saw his campaign come to an end after a quarterfinal defeat.
The 24-year-old Bregente needed just 28 holes combined to secure his two victories. He first defeated Roel Taga-an, 3&2, in the morning before returning later in the day to overwhelm young Bobe Salahog, 7&6, and book a semifinal showdown with Emilio Hernandez.
(C) NGAP
Emilio Hernandez, meanwhile, earned his place in the Final Four by defeating Edison Tabalin, 3&1, before following it up with a 4&3 victory over Jacob Rolida. His brother, Jet, was denied a shot at a double championship after teen standout Ralph Batican eliminated him, 4&2.
The all-Sarines quarterfinal ended on the 16th hole, with Lisa sealing a 3&2 victory with a routine par. She grabbed control early, going two-up through the first four holes, and never looked back to advance to a semifinal clash against Precious Zaragosa.
“It is what it is,” Sarines said when asked how it felt to eliminate her twin. “But this is just golf. My mom feels the most pain definitely. We all could have wished that we played different opponents today and both won.”
(C) NGAP
Quintanilla, meanwhile, was pushed to a 19th hole before finally turning back teenager Brittany Tamayo. The 19-year-old reigning Singapore Amateur Open champion advanced to face Nicole Gan, who posted a 2&1 victory over Tashanah Balangauan.
(C) NGAP
Zaragosa pulled off one of the day’s biggest upsets by defeating No. 2 seed Ally Gaccion, 4&3, to arrange a semifinal meeting with Sarines. The matchup will also break their 1-1 deadlock in previous match-play meetings.
“I think a lot of elements of my game has worked this week,” the 24-year-old Bregente said in Filipino.
“The key for me also has been staying patient,” he added as he entered the semifinals as the freshest among the remaining men’s contenders.
On the other side of the draw, Shinichi Suzuki advanced to face Batican after cruising past Jed Dy, 6&5, in the quarterfinals.
