Otico, Madis top North Cotabato netfest

MANILA, Philippines - John Bryan Otico and Jazelle Madis came away with two victories each to dominate the North Cotabato leg of the Philta-Palawan Pawnshop Regional Age- Group Championships presented by Babolat tennis tournament at the Kabacan Tennis Club yesterday.

Otico, 14, humbled top seed Carlo Nono, 4-0, 4-2, to claim the boys’ 18-and-under crown then added the 14-U plum with another 4-0, 4-2 victory over No. 1 Abson Alejandre while Madis toppled No. 2 Mae Nadua, 4-2, 4-2, to pocket the girls’ 14-U diadem in the event capping the five-leg Mindanao swing of the Philta circuit.

Madis also held off Shane Barrios, 5-3, 4-0, to cop the U-12 crown in the tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and Technosports, exclusive distributor of Babolat.

“The province of Kabacan would like to thank Palawan Pawnshop, Babolat and Philta for bringing this circuit here and providing a top-level tournament for our young players. We look forward to hosting more Philta tournaments in the future,” said Dr. Dionisio Nadela, president  of Kabacan Tennis Federation of Cotabato.

Nono, however, foiled Otico’s three-title bid as he pulled off a 4-1, 4-1 win in the 16-U finals.

Top seed Lara Nadela fought back from an opening set setback to repulse Pearl Luis, 3-5, 5-4(7), 10-4, to bag the girls’ 18-U title while Therese Quiros took the U-16 crown with a 4-1, 4-1 rout of Vianney Reyes.

Second seed John Merwin Estrellado thwarted No. 1 Nicole Gorospe, 4-2, 2-4, 10-6, to cop the boys’ 12-U title while No. 1 Eric Comendador won the 10-unisex crown with a 4-2, 4-0 romp over Brent Magno.

Meanwhile, Bobby Castro, COO of Palawan Pawnshop, and Guillermo Nocom, president of Technosports, in cooperation with Philta, will stage a 40-leg nationwide circuit starting January next year. It will kick off in Dumalag, Capiz with Iloilo City and Kalibo, Aklan hosting the next two legs.