Ventura's Jinsei Tajima and Santino Serralonga each advanced to the Western State Conference singles championship with two victories each in the draw held at the VC Tennis Center. In doubles, Tajima and Philemon Jabin along with Lucas Abreau and Eduardo Gorgonio Criscuolo each moved on to the semifinals to be played Saturday April 1.
Tajima, the top seed in the singles draw, defeated teammate Lucas Abreau 6-1, 6-3 in the quarterfinal round before besting an opponent from Bakersfield 6-4, 6-3 in the semi's. Serralonga, meanwhile, triumphed over teammate Julian Tellez 6-0, 6-3 before defeating his foe from Bakersfield in the semifinals. Jabin also played in the quarters, dropping a 6-4, 6-2 decision to Bakersfield. All five Pirates who played in the quarterfinals qualified for the state tournament to be held at The Ojai at the end of April.
In the back draw, Valentino Oggero also qualified for the state tournament with a 6-1, 6-2 win over an opponent from Santa Barbara.
In doubles play, Tajima and Jabin won their only match of the day 8-3 over a team from Bakersfield. Abreau and Criscuolo won their quarterfinal in an upset over the No. 2-seed from Bakersfield, 8-3.
In the backdraw, Tellez and Jared Gillespie won their match 8-1.
Tajima and Serralonga are scheduled to play for the singles title at 11:00 am on Saturday April 1 at the VC Tennis Center while the doubles semifinals are slated to begin at 3:00 pm.