Cebuano rules Phinma Juniors Cup

Arthur Pantino fought back from an opening set setback, dominated Bryan Otico in the next before rallying in the decider for a 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 win in the Phinma-PSC Juniors Tennis Championships Week 2 boys’ singles crown at the Manila Polo Club yesterday.

Pantino blew a huge lead in the opening frame but went on an attack mode in the second set then fought back from 0-2, 2-3 deficits in the decider to complete the come-from-behind vic- tory over his fellow Philippine Tennis Academy standout and top seeded rival.

The victory made up for the No. 3 University of San Carlos-Cebu ace’s straight-set defeat to Japanese Shunsuke Matsui in last week’s finale of the two-week Group 4 ITF (International Tennis Federation) 18-and-under event sponsored by the Philippine Investment Management Consultants (Phinma) and Technifiber.

“I saw he was getting tired so I took a chance and hit my shots,” said Pantino, who also flashed his stamina as he survived a third straight three-set triumph after bundling out Japanese Ryota Ishii, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3, in the quarters and then getting back at Mitsui, 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-0, in last Saturday’s Final Four.

Otico failed to neutralize Pantino’s strong fightback in the second and lost steam in the decider. /

“I never lose confidence... I was probably feeling myself too much from last game. Just made the game harder than it should be. You have to block it out the best you can, have a sense of amnesia almost, and just rely on the repetitions and work you put into it. STEPHEN CURRY