Three hours.
That’s how long the singles match between Saugus High boys tennis’ Erin Pang and Valencia High’s Batis Golestany lasted in the Foothill League prelims at the Paseo Club of Valencia on Wednesday.
But it was worth it for Pang, who won the first round and went on to beat Tanner Spendlove of Hart High to become the Centurions’ lone representative in Thursday’s semifinals.
“I wanted to make a difference in Saugus High School and the tennis program,” Pang said, “and by doing this, it’s a big step for me.”
PHOTOS: Foothill League boys tennis prelims
Pang will take on No. 1-seeded Davey Woodland of West Ranch today. Semifinal competition begins at 11 a.m. at the Paseo Club.
The Wildcats advanced all three of their singles players (Woodland, Jake Anderson and Parker McBride) to the semifinals.
Both Woodland and Anderson won each of their sets 6-0 through the first two rounds on a scorching hot afternoon.
“It’s really hot outside, but you’ve just got to drink a lot and hope to not lose your energy,” said Anderson, who beat Saugus’ James Phan and Golden Valley’s Dylan Yu to get to the semifinals.
McBride sought redemption against Valencia’s Eduardo Cedeno after falling to him on April 18 in a regular season matchup.
He earned it, beating Cedeno 6-2, 6-0, in the second round.
“My serve was on so that helped a lot,” McBride said. “He still played pretty well, he’s a steady player. He’s pretty scary when he matches up against me.”
McBride will face Anderson in the semis.
In doubles, West Ranch had two pairings advance: Noah Morrow and Quincy Walter-Eze; and Aristo Turalakey and Robert Kim.
Two doubles teams from Valencia also moved on. Evan Balmain and Chan Gi Kim; and Jackson Boxall and Stephen Thay.
“Steven and I went out there, we didn’t think any round was going to be easy,” Boxall said. “We just played one point at a time and it worked.”
Morrow and Walter-Eze will play Balmain and Kim, while Turalakey and Kim will play Boxall and Thay.
