Otico sustains form, tops Kidapawan netfest

MANILA, Philippines - John Bryan Otico continued to dish out top form in the Philta Palawan Pawnshop Regional Age-Group Championships presented by Babolat, winning two titles for the second straight week while Caryn Bless Guarde and Ashlie Martin dominated the girls side in Kidapawan, Cotabato City last Sunday.

Coming off twin victories in Davao last week, the 13-year-old Otico from PTA Davao humbled top seed Miko Ringia, 4-1, 4-2, in the 16-and-under finals at the Kidapawan City Tennis Club and overwhelmed Janus Ringia, 4-0, 4-2, to capture the 14-U crown in the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and Babolat.

Guarde, an 11-year-old find from Sultan Kudarat, swept Kathlenrey Arandia twice via the same 4-2, 4-1 score to capture the 12-U and 14-U diadems in the tournament organized by Philta.

“The Kidapawan tennis community wants to express its sincere thanks to the organizers and the sponsors for staging this very first Philta event here in 25 years. This will surely boost the sport here,” said KCTC president Yumars Comendador.

Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro and Guillermo Nocom, president of Technosports, exclusive distributor of Babolat equipment, reiterated their continued support to the sport and Philta’s development program.

Martin matched Guarde’s two-title romp by defeating top seed Nikki Bianca Vergara, 4-1, 4-2, in the 18-U finals and upending No. 1 Charhean Cyd Castillo, 5-3, 4-0, in the 16-U category.

Miko Ringia took the 18-U title with a 5-4(3), 4-0 victory over Shun Santos while Janus Ringia bagged the 12-U crown with a 4-2, 5-3 win over Nicole Gorospe. Eric John Comendador pocketed the 10-unisex plum with a 1-4, 4-0, 10-4 victory over Brent Magno.