Thursday, May 01, 2008 International sorties improve Sally’s game
SHE has been away from home most of the summer to chase a dream of becoming a stronger tennis player.
And the 14-year-old Sallymae Siso’s travels abroad has made her tougher on and off the court.
For the first time, Siso competed in international competitions in two different countries in a short span of time. Another first for her was going out of the country without her mother or one of her older siblings accompanying her. She was just with her teammates and coach Rolando Ruel.
Her mother was her regular companion during her vicotries in an age group tournament in Malaysia for the past two years.
Apart from earning international points, the tennis star of University of San Carlos value more how she had matured and had become more independent in a little over a month.
“Apart from the (ranking) points, I learned to become independent. I learned to wash my own clothes, clean my stuffs and budget my money,” Siso said.
“I am still not very good at budgeting but I have become responsible for myself and independent,” said Siso.
16 countries
Siso, who is in Manila to compete in the Guillermo Jose Jr. Memorial Cup, just recently arrived from a weeklong stint in China. Before this, she was in Manila for another competition that closely followed two others in Indonesia. She has been home for just a few days ever since school closed.
In China, Siso joined RP Under 14 teammates Shanine Olivarez and Akiko de Guzman in a competition participated in by 16 other countries like Australia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, China, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
Siso was the winningest member of the team as she won most of her matches. She won against her foes from New Zealand, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka.
Game
Her independence may be what Siso considers her most important gain in her overseas exposure, setting aside the fact that her game also improved by bounds.
“Apart from be becoming independent, my game improved too,” she said.
Proving this, Siso moved to the quarterfinal round of the Girls 14 division in the Guillermo Jose Memorial Cup after trouncing Paulina Tan, 6-1, 6-0. She earned a free pass to the quarterfinal after de Guzman failed to show up for their match. She is set to take on Marinel Rudas in the Round of 8 today.
Meanwhile, older brother Bernardine Niño is also pulling off an equally stunning performance in the Boys 18 and under division.
The unseeded Niño won over Tim Polero, 6-2, 6-1 and will be facing Niño Amoranto in the quarterfinals today. He will have a long day today as the No. 7 player in the Boys 16 division will also be playing in the quarterfinal in this age group against Paul Magaway.
Sallydine, on the other hand, the oldest of the Siso siblings, will be moving to the quarterfinals of the Girls 18 division after winning over Laurice Franco. Her foe retired after failing to score a single game in two sets, 6-0, 3-0.
The other Cebuano in the competition, Lowell Lloyd Cañete bombed out of the competition early after losing to Magaway in the 18-Under division. (MCB)
