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Thursday, December 22, 2005
Barte too much for Labandero
By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
RALPH Kevin Barte of Davao City repulsed Maerks Labandero of General Santos City in a lopsided encounter Wednesday morning, 6-0, 6-0, to advance to the 18-under semifinals of the 1st Sports Depot National Junior Age-Group Tennis Championships at the Davao Capitol Tennis Club courts.
The top-seeded Barte utilized a variety of strokes, including nasty sliced serves, to dump Labandero in just 30 minutes.
Barte, who just flew in from a tournament in Malaysia, will fight No. 4 Miguel Pantua in Thursday's semifinals.
Pantua, who hails from South Cotabato, earned the right to play Barte after ousting Gerard Pinili also in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
Pantua engaged Pinili in a baseline game and was clearly the superior with his corner-to-corner shots that had his rival chasing for every ball right from the opening game up to the final set.
Semifinal matches will also be played Thursday in the 12-under, 14-under, 16-under and 18-under in both the girls and boys divisions, according to organizer Titong Cansino.
With him around, Barte is also the solid favorite to rule the coming Pahalipay ni Mayor Duterte men's open tennis tournament, which fires off from December 27-30 also at the Capitol courts.
Barte won the tournament last year over Dodong Rubillar and poses no threat again this year in the absence of top-caliber tennis players in Davao.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (December 22, 2005 issue)
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