Ho cops 18-under girls plum

Top seed Jasmine Tan Ho relied on her solid backhand to win the girls’ 18-under title over unseeded Patricia Orteza, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, in the recent Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open Junior Tennis Championships at the club’s indoor shell court.

Ho, grade 7 student at the International School Manila, played consistently in the last two sets to become the tournament’s youngest 18-under champion. She also won the 16-under title last year and the 14-under title two years ago.

“I had a sluggish first set and Orteza played very well. But I stepped up in the next two set to win the match,” said the 13-year-old Ho, who bagged her fourth title this year.

In other results, seventh seed Joan Therese Opulencia downed No. 8 Mary Grace Rivero, 6-2, 6-3, to clinch the girls’ 16-under while fourth seed Katrina Orteza bagged the girls’ 14-under title over fifth seed Isabella Orteza, 6-4, 7-5.

In the boys division, top seed Kyle Cordero survived third seed Rolee Joven, 7-6 (4), 6-3, to capture his fourth straight 18-under title. He won the Andrada Cup, Philta Age-Group and Head-Baguio leg early this year.

Second seed Kim Polero defeated sixth seed Fritz Verdad, 6-4, 6-2, to pocket the boys’ 16-under title while second pick Jacob Lagman rallied past third seed Dheo Talatayod, 6-7, 6-2, 7-5, for the 14-under title.