Otico rules top 2 age brackets; Rivera up

JOHN Bryan Otico dominated the top two age brackets while Shaira Hope Rivera completed her upset run in the girls’ 18-under of the 26th Andrada Cup tennis championships at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday .

The two Philippine Tennis Academy students led a list of champions that included promising Nio Tria, who topped the boys’ 14-U and Monica Therese Cruz (girls’ 16-U).

The 15-year-old Otico, a discovery from Bukidnon, captured the boys’ 18-U title after beating third seed Chris Justin Prulla, 6-4, 6-2. He also ruled the 16-U following a 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) win over second seed Cenon Gonzales Jr.

Rivera, also 15, scored a breakthrough victory with a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) conquest of third seed Frances Santiago in the girls’ 18-U finals.  The Davao City bet shocked top seed Chryslyn Colleen Sioson (6-3, 7-6 (7-2) last Thursday.

Otico, a La Salle-Zobel student, is set to campaign in the Hong Kong ITF Grade 4 next week along with Cruz and fellow PTA standout Khim Iglupas.

“Bryan and Shaira really showed a lot of improvement and now we are confident they are ripe for bigger ITF events,” said PTA coach Jun Toledo.

Seeded second,  Tria downed Jed Justin Labasano, 6-2, 6-4, to claim the boys’ 14-under championship. Tria also won the boys’ 14-under doubles crown with Mark Directo.

Cruz, 14, dominated girls’ 16-U following a 1-6, 7-5 (ret.) win over Frances Santiago.

OTHER WINNERS: Caryn Bless Guarde (girls’ 14-U), Guarde-Maxine Martin (girls’ doubles 14-U), Miguel Luis Vicencio (boys’ 12-U), John Michael Belo (unisex 10-U)