Friday, January 11, 2008 Tennis player, 10, shines
CEBU Province found another potential “Garbo sa Sugbu” awardee in a 10-year-old boy who reaped several awards in tennis tournaments here and abroad.
Vince Marc Tabotabo of Tuburan town won numerous medals and trophies from different lawn tennis competitions in the Philippines and abroad.
He brought some of his awards during a courtesy call on Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday, just before he boarded a flight to Manila for a meeting with the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta).
As a simple reward for his feats, Garcia gave Vince a pack of chocolates and called him a “pride of Cebu.”
Vince earlier presented his trophies and medals to Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez, a tennis buff himself.
The boy was accompanied by his father Titus and coach Prospero Rueland Jr.
Vince’s latest victory was making it to the main round of the Little Mo National tournament in Austin, Texas in the United States last December at the Austin Tennis Academy.
Although Little Mo is not as popular as the other world-class tournaments, it is where professional tennis celebrities like Andy Roddick started their careers.
Vince was the smallest and the only non-American in the competition, but managed to defeat all of his opponents to move to the main round.
He finished sixth in the tournament.
Titus said his son is not used to eating American food, which may have affected his chances of getting the title in the tournament.
Vince also won a tournament in Malaysia last year. In the Philippines, he has won at least 30 competitions.
Vince, the youngest of four siblings, started playing when he was only five years old. Titus said his elder children also play lawn tennis and have won inter-school competitions.
The 10-year-old boy practiced in their district hospital’s tennis court six hours a day. He is a grade five student of the Tuburan Elementary School.
Garcia told reporters she is considering him as one of the recipients of the annual “Garbo sa Sugbu” awards.
“Dako kaayo natong garbo sa sugbo nga sa iyang pagkabantan-on nakakab-ot siya sa maong dungog (We are so proud to see what he has accomplished at such a tender age),” said Garcia. “He’s really an example for our youth to emulate, to concentrate their energies on sports (and) not to be distracted by other pursuits or worse, to destroy their lives by plunging into the darkest pits of drug addiction,” she added.
Vince also told the governor he intends to do well in a tournament in California, where he is set to compete this March. This time, Titus said he will be bringing a rice cooker with him so Vince can eat his rice and be more comfortable during the tournament. (JGA)
