Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tabotabo makes q’finals
By Marian C. Baring
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
THINGS are looking up for Tuburan tennis stalwart Vince Mark Tabotabo, who dominated his first match in the 13th Gullas Cup Junior Tennis Competition yesterday at the Cebu Country Club.
The 11-year-old Tabotabo dropped only two games to win over Carl Cathedral, 6-1, 6-1 and earn a slot to the quarterfinal round of the Boys 12 division.
Tabotabo, who is playing in his first tournament in the country following his two-month tennis tour in the US, arrested the winning run of Cathedral after the visiting player from Negros had already claimed two victories before bowing to Tabotabo.
Tabotabo, who won two titles in the US, will be facing Leomar Domingo in the Round of 8. Domingo trounced Harvey Gilbuena, 6-0, 6-1, yesterday.
Tabotabo is in Cebu with the rest of the delegation from Tuburan to take part in the Gullas Cup.
The other Tuburan players moving to the next round in the Boys 12 class are Jared Laurel, who defeated Yuyu Choya, 6-3, 6-1. Ranz Gerona and Germaine Laurel are the two other Tuburanons advancing to the second round of the 10-Under unisex with walkovers.
The other quarterfinalists in the 10-Under division were RJ Singson, who defeated Harvey Gilbuena, 6-3, 6-4; Zethley Alferez, who defeated Bing Buanghug, 6-2, 6-3; Charles Kinaadman, who defeated Denice Alota; John Seno, who defeated Shyne Villareal, 6-0, 6-1; and Christopher Encarnacion, who sneaked past Clyde Dujale, 6-3, 3-6, 10-8.
Meanwhile, another highly-touted Cebuano player, Jacob Lagman, made his menacing presence felt as he overpowered his opponent in the Boys 14 division.
Lagman wasted no time in trouncing John Pintor, 6-0, 6-0, to arrange a quarterfinal round battle with Angelo Villarante.
Gold medal
Villarante’s entry to the quarterfinals did not come as easy as Lagman’s as he had to pass through the eye of the needle before defeating Mark Bienes, 6-3, 4-6, 13-11.
This is Lagman’s first year in the 14-Under bracket. He earlier punctuated his elementary division days with a double gold medal win in the Palarong Pambansa held last April in Puerto Princes, Palawan.
Lagman’s Palaro teammate, Fritz Satera, on the other hand, also moved to the next round with a 6-2,6-0 win over Jude Tabotabo.
He will be facing Francis Derek Alcantara today. Alcantara’s entry to the next round was courtesy of his 6-0, 6-0 win over Lysias Arpon, Jr.
Also moving to the next round after winning their respective matches yesterday were Dan Eldrid Cinco, who defeated Francis Edilbert Alcantara, 6-1, 6-2; Benjo Garcia, who defeated Dwyne Tarculas, 3-6, 6-3, 10-4; and Kurt Gerapusco, who defeated Francis Parangan, 6-1, 5-7, 10-7.
Over at the Casino Español tennis courts, the Siso sisters also advanced to the semifinals in their respective divisions.
Sally Mae, the country’s Top 3 player in the Girls 14 division, won over Clarissa Mae Fuentes, 6-1, 6-2, while Sallydine also moved to the semifinals after defeating Bianca Cenabre, 6-1, 6-1.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 29, 2008 issue)
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