Jarata, Carlos firm up bid for national tennis team

MANILA, Philippines – Promising netters Marc Andrei Jarata and Macie Carlos strengthened their bids for national team inclusion after they reigned in the boys and girls 12-under categories respectively, in the 27th Andrada Cup age-group tennis championships at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Fourth-seeded Jarata ruled the division marked with stunning upsets after he trounced Samuel Nuguit, 6-4, 6-2, in the finals. The top two seeds in the age-group dropped in the first round.

Carlos, the No. 1 pick, took a different route as she dominated second seed Kryshana Brazal, 6-1, 6-1, in the event held in honor of Salvador “Buddy” Andrada, former Philippine Tennis Association president and currently commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission.

“We are very impressed with the performance of our young players, with this generation of athletes, we are confident of an even stronger national team in the future,” said Andrada.

Alexandra Eala emerged double champion after dispatching top seed Miles Vitaliano, 6-2, 6-3, in the girls 14-U finals.

It was the 10-year-old Eala’s second title after ruling the girls 16-U division the previous day, upsetting Rafaella Villanueva (6-1, 6-1).

Upset also marked the boys 18-U as unseeded Gabriel Tiamson toppled top seed Chris Justine Prulla, 6-3, 6-3, to dominate the age bracket.

Brent So held sway in the unisex 10-U after besting Mikaela Emana, 4-5, 5-3, 5-2.

The meet serves as basis for the selection of national  players for the Junior Davis Cup, Junior Fed Cup and Junior World Championships.

The top three rankings in both boys and girls divisions after March 15 will eventually nail slots to the national  teams.

Also taking the titles were Jake Martin in boys 16-U, and Aljon Talatayod in boys 14-U.