Vivencio cops Andrada title in 45 minutes

MANILA, Philippines - Miguel Luis Vivencio needed no more than 45 minutes to clinch the first title at stake in the 25th Andrada Cup age-group tennis championships yesterday.

Vivencio, the top seed in the 10-under unisex, was a joy to watch in a swift 6-1, 6-0 win over second seed Cesar Kristoffer Salimbangon at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The nine-year-old Vivencio, who hails from Plaridel, Bulacan, was simply unbeatable in the division featuring some of the youngest tennis players in the country.

The tournament named after former Philippine Tennis Association chief and current PSC commissioner Salvador Andrada will hold the finals in the other groups today.

Khim Iglupas and Eric Jed Olivarez are in the finals of the girls and boys 18-under divisions, respectively, while Jacob Martin and Arthur Craig Pantino will dispute the 14-under crown.

Iglupas, only 15 but good enough against older players, ran away with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Frances Santiago in the girls’ 18-under semis.

Actually, Iglupas also made it to the finals of the girls’ 16-under and will be shooting for two titles today.

Iglupas was runner-up in the 16-under and 18-under divisions last year. But she looks more prepared and ready to win them all this year.

In the 18-under finals, Iglupas, who has a world ranking of 604, will face Maia Balce, who scored a 6-1, 6-0 win against Percian Rivera. In the 16-under finals, she takes on either Chloe Saraza or Erika Manduriao.

Olivarez made it to the finals of the boys’ 18-under title with a clear 6-0, 6-0 win over John Bryan de Casa. The other finals berth was still being disputed by second seed Jerome Romualdez and Emmanuel Vacalares Jr.

Martin and Pantino bagged the boys 14-under doubles title with an 8-3 win over Aljohn Talatayod and Joseph Anida in the event sponsored by Philippine Sports Commision, Tru-Flex Sports Surfacing, Dunlop Balls, Olivarez Sports Center, Cebuana Lhuillier, Altamar Shipping, Phinma Group of Companies,  M.C. Balce Surveying and Secure Storage Services.

Ironically, Martin and Pantino will be on the opposite ends of the court today when they dispute the 14-under singles crown.

Pantino, the top seed, advanced with a 6-2, 6-3 decision against Manuel Balce III while Martin, the second seed, carved out a 6-2, 6-1 triumph against Anida.