Andrada Cup age group tennis comes off the wraps

TOP junior players Eric Jed Olivarez and Dave Mosqueda will be the top guns in the centerpiece boys’ 18-under division while Khim Iglupas and Maia Balce set out as the favorites in girls’ play as the 25th Andrada Cup age group championships unfurl today at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Considered the longest-running age-group event in the country, the tournament, a brainchild of former tennis chief and now Philippine Sports Commissioner Salvador “Buddy” Andrada, will also feature competitions in the 10-under unisex and boys’ and girls’ 12-under, 14-under and 16-under.

At stake are Philippine Tennis Association ranking points and a chance to represent the country in international junior competitions.

Among the promising talents competing are Jerome Romualdez in boys’ 16-under, Erika Manduriao in girls’ 16-under, Arthur Craig Oantino in boys’ 14-under, and age-group hotshot Rafaella Jean Villanueva.

“This is a milestone year for Andrada Cup because we have established the tournament as a breeding ground for the national team,” said Andrada, who was recently installed honorary life president of the Asian Tennis Federation.

Cagayan de Oro’s Roxanne Resma made the biggest impact last year with titles in the girls’ 16-under and 18-under.

The Philta Grade 1 event kicks off a busy 2014 calendar for the young netters. Sponsoring the event are PSC, Dunlop Balls, Olivarez Sports Center, Cebuana Lhuillier, Altamar Shipping, Tru-Flex and Phinma Group of Companies.