Monday, December 04, 2006 Tabotabo advances to 3rd round
UNSEEDED Vince Mark Tabotabo upset a ranked player to enter the third round of the 26th Kuanku Syed Putra Perlis Milo International Junior Tennis Championship 2006 yesterday in Perlis, Malaysia.
The nine year old from Tuburan Elementary School, defeated 12th ranked Nikaqerifan Abdulla, 8-5, to enter the final round of the Boys 10 Under division, in the tennis circuit's third leg.
Tabotabo, who is supported by Vice Governor Greg Sanchez, Tavos Sports and Accord Bank, books a third round outing with Thailand's Yotsapat Thotraiang today.
Tabotabo's doubles partner Jurence Mendoza also advances to the third round after winning his assignment yesterday.
However, Tabotabo's father and coach Titus is doubtful that his son will make it to the podium in this leg, and predicts that Vince Mark will make it only to the quarterfinal round.
Slim chance
"We expect that he reaches the quarterfinals, but he will be going against a Korean then. His chances are slim because the Koreans are very strong," Titus said.
In the last leg, Vince Mark and Mendoza had bronzes after they were clobbered by Koreans in their respective semifinal games.
So far in the past two legs, Vince Mark already has one gold medal and three bronzes. Vince Mark and Mendoza won in the doubles title of the Selangor leg, where he also finished with a bronze in the singles event. Last week's Penang stage, Tabotabo clinched a bronze in both the singles and doubles events.
"We are already happy with the outcome. He did very well for his first international competition," Titus added.
Tough assignment
Meanwhile, the other Cebuano in the competition, Sally Mae Siso, who is seeded 4th in this competition, enjoyed a bye yesterday and will compete in the second round today in the Girls 12 division. She right away plunges into a tough assignment against Korean Song Suna today. Siso however already defeated Suna in the last leg.
Siso, who is backed by University of San Carlos, Nick Pepito, Jonathan Guardo and Dunlop, will once more pair up with Malaysian Neesha Menon for the doubles contest in the same age group.
Siso is definitely not a disappointment this year as she managed to win the lone gold for RP delegation in Penang last week. She was the only Filipino to have defeated a Korean netter. The Koreans won the other nine titles in Penang.
After Perlis, the tournament will wrap up in Langkawi for the final leg. (MCB)
