Ringia, Eala seal duel for title

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Janus Ringia and No. 2 Michael Eala collide for the boys’ 12-and-under crown as they swept their respective rivals while second seed Emmanuel Vacalares Jr. downed No.3 Sohaimen Mama to arrange a title duel with Bryan Otico for the 14-and-under title in the 24th Andrada Cup tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Courts yesterday.

Ringia and Eala showed top form to oust No.3 Marcus del Rosario, 6-2, 6-3, and No. 4 Mark Alfred Directo, 6-0, 6-2, respectively, while Vacalares thwarted Mama, 6-4, 6-2, to face off with the seventh-ranked Otico, who shocked fourth seed Godfrey Seno, 1-6, 6-3(10-5), in the other semis clash of the boys’ 14-and-under category. Alexandra Eala wore down second seed Jan Harold Trillanes in the decider and snatched a thrilling 4-6, 6-3(10-8) victory to seal a title showdown with top seed Diego Dayrit in the 10-unisex division.

Dayrit overpowered unranked Alfmed Doloroso, 6-0, 6-0, in the other semis clash.

Third seed Nicole Amistad survived a big scare from unseeded Chloe Mae Saraza, escaping with a tough 7-5, 6-2(11-9) victory to move into the semis against top seed Roxanne Resma, who blanked Angelica Mosqueda, 6-0, 6-0, in the girls’ 16-and-under category..

Second seed Maia Balce also cruised to the Final Four with a 6-3, 6-0 rout of Jade Capadocia.

Top seed Carlyn Bless Guarde hung tough in the opening frame then dominated No. 3 Blanche Lagrisola in the next to fashion out a 6-4, 6-1 victory and seal a duel with fifth seed Mikaela Vicencio for the girls’ 12-and-under diadem. Vicencio stopped No. 7 Gia Sagandoy, 2-6, 6-4(11-9), in the other semis clash.

No. 4 Andrew Cano stamped his class over Alfonso Opulencia, 6-1, 6-0, while unranked Joachim Samson upended No. 7 Betto Orendain, 6-3, 6-2, to barge into the semis of the centerpiece boys’ 18-and-under class.

Top seed Roxanne Resma, meanwhile, coasted to a 6-1, 6-1 romp over Khim Iglupas to lead the semifinals in the girls’ premier 18-and-under category.

No. 6 Jeleardo Amazona pulled off a big 6-1, 5-7(13-11) upset win over second seed Dave Mosqueda to crash into the semis of the boys’ 16-and-under class against third seed Eric Olivarez Jr., who repulsed No. 5 Mikko Ringia, 6-4, 3-6(10-7).

 while top seed Marcen Gonzales bucked unseeded Lenard Cheng, 7-6(4), 6-2, to arrange a semis duel with No. 4 Stefan Suarez, who turned back No. 8 Fel Lopez, 6-4, 6-3.

No. 7 Monica Therese Cruz also posted a big reversal in the day as she stunned top seed Rafaela Villanueva, 6-3, 6-1, to crash into the semis of the girls’ 14-and-under class together with unfancied Angelica Mosqueda, who defeated Gia Sagandoy, 6-1, 6-4, in the lower half of the draw.

The  Group I event is sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association and held in honor of Philippine sports commissioner Buddy Andrada. It is sponsored by Dunlop Fort All Court Balls, Philippine Sports Commission, First Solid Group, St. Luke’s Medical Center and Sagip Bayan Foundation.