Belo gains semis slots in two age brackets

John Michael Belo stormed the draws in two age brackets even as Marcus del Rosario and Nio Tria led the semifinal charge in the boys 14-under bracket yesterday in the 26th Andrada Cup age-group tennis championships at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Belo stunned second seed Edgardo Angara, 6-4, 6-4, to barge into the semis of the boys 12-under. He also rocked the 10-under unisex division when he defeated Simoune Ysmael Firma, 6-0, 6-1, to also make the semis.

Belo, who earlier upset second seed Jose Thomas Bernardo (6-3, 6-1) also in the 10-under unisex, will battle Prince Patrick Salvacion, who overcame Lance Fernandez, 6-0, 1-6, (12-10).

Top seed Marc Andrei Jarata drubbed Joshua Diva, 6-0, 6-0, to also make the semis against Riley Matheu Banaag, who eliminated Kidlat Estogero, 6-0, 6-2.

In the boys 12-under, Belo will next face fourth seed Rafael Liangco, who made it with a 6-1, 6-0 triumph over Bernardo.

John Bryan Otico, top seed in boys 18-under and 16-under, booked semifinal tickets in both divisions.

He defeated Lordrens Pacheco, 6-4, 7-5, to advance in 18-under, and Jake Martin, 6-1, 7-5, to progress in 16-under of the meet sponsored by the PSC, Altamar Shipping, Tru-Flex and Thaddeus Sporting Goods.

Otico is waiting for the winner between fourth seed Justin Suarez and Manuel Balce III, who are still locked in battle in 16-under. He will face either Cenon Gonzales Jr., and John Israel Sanga also still playing in 18-under quarterfinals at press time.