Four Cebuano netters to see action in Philta’s 25th Andrada Cup

FOUR of Cebu’s fastest-rising age group tennis stars will banner the Cebuanos’ cause when the 2014 Philippine Lawn Tennis Association’s (Philta) 25th Andrada Cup blasts off today at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Malate, Manila.

The Cebuanos who will be seeing action in the Division I Junior Tennis Championship that offers 200 points for the champion are Bright Academy’s Zethley Mae Alferez, Kristin Renee Salimbangon, Arthur Craig Pantino and Cesar Kristofer Salimbangon.

Alferez, no.8 in Philta’s Girls 16-Under national rankings, and Salimbangon are both entered in the Girls’ 16 and 14 under age group divisions, while Cesar Kristofer will be seeing action in the 12-Under Boys and 10-Under Unisex battles. Pantino will try his luck in the Boys’ 14-Under category, where he’s the top-seeded player.

Alferez will start her campaign in the 16-Under Girls division tomorrow when she faces Bianca Catoto, while fellow Cebuana Kristin Renee Salimbangon will face Mikaela Vicencio also tomorrow.

In the 14-Under Girls division, the age bracket’s no.4 seed, Alferez, will start her quest also tomorrow as she goes up against Li Jian Thean, while Kristin Renee will square off against Jacky Tan Ho also on the 7th.

The Cebuano Boy’s 14-Under topseed Arthur Craig Pantino will start his quest for glory on Jan.7 against the winner between Athan Arejola and Max Luz Stehling.

Cesar Kristofer, for his part, will begin his campaign in the 12-Under Boys’ division, where he’s the no.2 seed, as he faces Aldwyn Rosales in tomorrow’s draw.

He will also start his bid in the 10-Under Unisex battles on the same date, where he’s scheduled to battle Kidlat Estogero.

Cesar Kristofer is the no.2 seed in the age division. /Correspondent Jade S. Violeta