Arthur Craig Pantino (fourth from the right) with other winners and tournament officials during the awarding ceremonies yesterday at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.
contributed
Cebuano netter Arthur Craig Pantino overcame a sluggish start to hack out a 5-7, 6-0, 6-3 victory over fellow Filipino John Bryan Otico and claim the PSC-Phinma International Juniors 2 title yesterday at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.
What made the victory even more remarkable for the 16-year-old Pantino was that the win marked his first ever championship triumph in ITF-sanctioned tournaments.
Prior to their finals battle, Pantino easily defeated Otico 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the PSC-Phinma International Juniors Week 1 competition scheduled last week.
However, Otico came into the game swinging as he survived Pantino, 7-5, to take the opening set. But that proved to be his last hurrah as Otico’s legs gave in, setting up Pantino’s comeback.
“I saw that Bryan was getting tired already so I took the chance,” Pantino said.
Pantino went on to complete the rousing comeback in dominating fashion as he blanked Otico in the second, 6-0, before taking the title with a 6-3 triumph in the third.
Next up for Pantino is the Palawan Pawnshop – Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) Dagitab Festival Men’s open slated this December.