Otico, Rivera gain quarters in Phinma tilt

In-form Bryan Otico knocked off another rival in straight-set fashion while Shaira Rivera sustained her form and stunned No. 4 Wing Ka Lin of Hong Kong as they moved into the quarterfinal round of the Phinma-PSC Juniors Tennis Championships Week 2 at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park yesterday.

The top-seeded Otico, winner of the PCA Open last week who eased out Japanese Nowa Matsubayashi, 6-3, 6-2, last Tuesday, clobbered Malaysian Danial Ahmad Farid, 6-2, 6-1, to roll into the quarters against the winner in the duel between Jericho Grollman of the US and Odeda Arazza of Indonesia.

Arthur Pantino, runner-up in Week I of the Group 4 ITF (International Tennis Federation) 18-and-under event sponsored by the Philippine Investment Management Consultants (Phinma) and Technifiber, also gained a berth in the Last 8 with a 6-4, 6-2 decision over Hong Kong’s Marvin Lee. He will next face the victor in the Ryota Ishii of Japan-Shamirul Adam Das of Malaysia clash being played at presstime.