Monday, May 05, 2008 Tabotabo caps US sojourn with Laguna Creek Junior title
VINCE Mark Tabotabo concluded his US sojourn with an emphatic victory in the Laguna Creek Junior Open yesterday at the Laguna Creek Racquet Club in California.
Tabotabo, the diminutive player, who hails from Tuburan, surprised the crowd what his little arms were capable of.
Tabotabo’s reputation had reached far as he was able to draw Filipinos to watch him in his finals match against seeded player Avery Moor, whom he shamed with a 6-4, 6-4 victory, to claim the Boys 11 division title.
“Everyone was amazed at how he could match the play of his competitor, who was much bigger,” said Vince Mark’s father Titus.
“It did not seem like a David defeating and Goliath. The intensity of their match was like that of a tiger and a lion fighting,” Tabotabo added
Tabotabo also said that this was the reason, why people came to watch the finals match.
“The Pinoys cheered so hard. They really enjoyed the match. His opponent was so big and tall but seemed helpless against Makmak,” Titus said in a text message.
“The support of the Filipinos here was very uplifting not just for my son but also for me because we no longer felt that we were alone fighting there,” Titus added.
This was not the only Goliath that Tabotabo defeated in this tournament. In the semifinals last week, Tabotabo captured an even bigger fish after defeating the tournament top-seed Jacob Zetlin, 6-0, 6-0.
The Tabotabos, who have been backed by the provincial government led by Governor Gwen Garcia and Vice Governor Greg Sanchez, will be going back home this week.
Tabotabo’s short stay in the US had been productive as he won two titles and one runnerup finish. He also earned an entry to the Little Mo national finals slated later this year, after topping the sectionals the other week.
He will be back in the US later this year to play in the nationals. The feat is a huge turnaround compared to last year, where he had to fight for a slot to the main draw of the Little Mo nationals, where he eventually lost. (MCB)
