Otico, Sioson march to Andrada Cup semis

MANILA, Philippines - Fancied John Bryan Otico and Chrislyn Colleen Sioson played true to form and repulsed their respective rivals yesterday to cruise into the semifinal round of their respective divisions in the 26th Andrada Cup age-group tennis championships at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Otico overcame a hard-fighting Lordrens Pacheco, 6-4, 7-5, to clinch a semis ticket in the premier boys 18-under category. He earlier eased out Jake Martin, 6-1, 7-5, to likewise advance to the Final Four of the 16-under category.

Sioson, 15, drubbed Blanche Lagrisola, 6-2, 6-1, to make the girls 16-under semis against Frances Santiago, a 6-0, 6-1 winner over Bettina Gabriel Bautista. Second seed Monica Therese Cruz walked over Miles Vitaliano to also advance to the semis.

Otico will take on the winner between fourth seed Cenon Gonzales Jr. and John Israel Sanga, who were still playing at presstime in the event sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Altamar Shipping, Tru-Flex and Thaddeus Sporting Goods.

Third seed Chris Justine Prulla whipped fifth seed Jeremiah Macias, 6-1, 6-1, to advance in the boys 18-under class against Jerome Silva, who routed King Golfo, 6-1, 6-0.

John Michael Belo kept his upset run as he shocked second seed Edgardo Angara, 6-4, 6-4, to crash into the boys 12-under semis. He also stirred the draw in the 10-under unisex when he stopped Simoune Ysmael Firma, 6-0, 6-1, to make the Final Four. He earlier bundled out second seed Jose Thomas Bernardo, 6-3, 6-1.

Belo will take on No. 4 Rafael Liangco, who barged into the 12-under semis with a 6-1, 6-0 triumph over Bernardo. Top seed Miguel Luis Vicencio downed Abraham Marquez, 6-2, 6-0, to set up semis match against third seed Marc Andrei Jarata who ripped Patrick Daniel Abis, 6-0, 6-0.

Jarata, top seed in 10-under unisex, routed Joshua Diva, 6-0, 6-0, to arrange a semis duel against Riley Matheu Banaag who ousted Kidlat Estogero, 6-0, 6-2.

Belo will face Prince Patrick Salvacion, who held off Lance Fernandez, 6-0, 1-6, (12-10), in the 10-under unisex semis

In the boys’ 14-under, the top four seeds played through the draw to advance to the semis. Top seed Marcus Del Rosario overwhelmed fifth seed Tim Gumban, 6-1, 6-0, to enter the next round against third seed Jed Justin Labasano who outlasted Jonas Silva, 6-1, 6-4.

Second seed Nio Tria outlasted Alexander Bulilan, 6-2, 6-7 (7-5), (10-7), to face fourth pick Aljohn Talatayod who drubbed Jeromie Ignacio, 6-1, 6-3.