THE Greater Cebu Sports Organizing Committee (GCSOC) tennis team is showing positive signs of bringing home another medal for Cebu after overcoming their first day assignments in the Arafura Games 2007 against home bets yesterday at the Garden Tennis Center in Darwin, Australia.
The Cebuanos scored four victories after winning their first assignments in singles and the mixed doubles events.
Kristel Mae Buenacosa, of University of San Carlos defeated, Macau, China’s Lei Lei Cheong, 6-3, 6-0. Buenacosa paired off with former national standout Christian Tiongko to claim an effort-less victory over Australia’s Adil Hakeem and Emily Webb via walk over.
Dumaguete City’s Macy Solon, on the other hand, defeated Jennifer Woerner of Darwin, 6-3, 6-2.
In mixed doubles, Solon and Janjie Soquiño defeated another local bet, Jason Vieira and Woerner, 6-0, 6-1.
The mixed doubles and women’s division adopts a round-robin format and at press time yesterday, Buenacosa and Solon were set to take on each other before facing other foes.
Meanwhile, Tiongko advanced to the second round of the men’s singles event after trouncing Aussie Ryan Debugue, 6-1, 6-0, in the Round of 32. The men’s singles event will use the knockout system.
Cotabato’s Ahmil Hussein Macapendeg of Cotabatao suffered an early eviction in the men’s singles after losing to Australia’s George Shepheard, 2-6, 3-6.
Over at the Marrara Indoor Stadium, the GCSOC table tennis athletes also jumpstarted their bids on a high note.
Table tennis
As of yesterday, the men’s team of Michael Motel and Jay Eribert Impuesto are on top of the leaderboard in Group I after winning their two matches. In the individual standings, Motel and Impuesto are currently at second and third places after winning all of their games.
In the Women’s event, where coach Jessica Jawad-Honoridez is playing with Annabelle Fajardo, the team is currently ranked third.
The two won two of their three matches. Unluckily, the team belongs to the Group of Death with powerhouses China and Macau, who are currently at the top two spots.
Meanwhile, the lone rider representing the Philippines in the road bike race, Niño Surban, failed to barge into the top three of the Men’s elite class.
He, however, still has a chance to redeem himself in the time trial tomorrow.
The medal-rich swimming event will also start tomorrow. (MCB)
