Lazaro, Japanese dispute U-16 title

Defending champion Leander Lazaro trounced Jurence Mendoza, 6-3, 6-2, to advance to the final of the boys’ 16-and-under crown in the 20th Andrada Cup Age Group Championships at the Rizal Tennis Center yesterday.

The 5-9 Lazaro, who overpowered Chinese Guo Yu Chen in the quarters, sustained his form to dominate Mendoza and arrange a title showdown with Japanese Kenta Hashimoto, who bundled out Erickson Marquez, 6-1, 6-2, in the other semis duel.

“I controlled the game although I played with pain on my right leg,” said the 15-year-old third year high school student at St. James Academy in Filipino.

Fifth pick Argilance Canizares and No. 6 Betto Orendain advanced to the semifinals in the 14-and-under section with hard-earned wins over No. 4 Enrique Ferrer, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (6), 6-2, and No. 3 Calvin Canlas, 1-6, 6-3, 7-5, respectively.

Mendoza made up for his loss in the older bracket with a 6-3, 6-2 rout of No. 7 Kyle Parpan as he set up a semis clash with Canizares.

Hans Asistio also continued to shine as he smothered Marmichael Teng, 6-0, 6-2, to arrange a duel with Orendain.

Shao Yi Jia of China defeated girls’ 14-and-under top seed Akiko de Guzman, 6-4, 6-0, while Vince Tabo Tabo shocked boys’ 12-and-under favorite Vince Salas with a marathon 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (8) win.

Shao takes on No. 4 Katrina Orteza, who scored a walkover win over No. 6 Treen Quirrez, while Tabo Tabo meets No. 4 Alberto Lim Jr., who prevailed over Tim Becker, 6-2, 6-4.

Canlas bounced back from his setback in the upper class by beating Carl Andrew Abadilla, 6-0, 6-2, in the 12-and-under to barge into the quarterfinals against No. 2 Christian San Andres, who bested Mimo Tomacruz, 6-1, 6-0.

Tomacruz, however, blanked Abadilla, 6-0, 6-0, to enter the finals of the unisex 10-and-under division.