Mendoza, Tabo Tabo bag Andrada Cup titles

Jurence Mendoza and Vince Tabo Tabo carved out victories over fancied rivals to rule their respective divisions but top favorite Leander Lazaro fell to a Japanese rival yesterday in the 20th Andrada Cup Age Group Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis courts.

The second-seeded Mendoza flashed fine form to dominate top pick Hans Asistio, 6-1, 6-0, and claim the boys’ 14-year-old and under title, while Tabo Tabo pulled the rug from under second seed Christian San Andres with a stunning 6-2, 6-4 win for the boys’ 12-under crown.

The victories gave Mendoza and Tabo Tabo 100 ranking points each.

But Lazaro, who topped the 16-under class last Thursday, failed in his bid for a second crown as he bowed to power-serving Takehiro Uragami of Japan, 6-2, 1-6, 7-5, in the premier boys’ 18-under semifinals.

The 15-year-old Lazaro lost his focus and touch in the deciding set, squandering huge points as Uragami fought back from the brink of defeat, 1-5, to snatch the win and a spot in the final.

Lazaro’s double fault in his final serve sealed the victory for Uragami.

“He’s strong,” said the 5-foot-9 Lazaro, referring to his rival.

Uragami came away with six aces to underscore his top form while Lazaro had six double-faults in the day.

Uragami next faces top seed Michael James Hukwo of Peru, who beat No. 3 Paul Nicole Magaway, 6-4, 6-3, for the crown.

Ai Usami and Momoko Tanaka, meanwhile, arranged an all-Japanese showdown for the girls’ 18-under title after fashioning out contrasting victories over separate rivals.

Usami repulsed eighth seed Patricia Joy Orteza, 6-2, 6-2, while Tanaka turned back compatriot Ruiko Higashinaka, 6-3, 7-5.

Top pick Marinel Rudas, runner-up to Shannin Olivarez last year, trounced Ruiko Higashinaka of Japan, 6-0, 6-1, to claim the girls’ 16-under crown last Thursday.

Top seed Alberto Lim Jr. also bagged the unisex-10 years old title with a 6-1, 6-3 win over second ranked Mimo Tomacruz.

Lim, who earned a first-round bye, dominated his class as he whitewashed Michael Eala, 6-0, 6-0, and third pick Rafael Teng, 6-0, 6-0, in the earlier matches.