CEBU’S promising netter 14-year-old Jacob Lagman won a set against J Paul Riblora, 6-0, 6-1, in his opening game yesterday at the 6th Leg of the Johnny Arcilla Tennis Circuit National Open at the Noah Tennis Club in Bacolod City.
Jacob will be advancing to the next round and will be facing the country’s top seed players including Johnny Arcilla, PJ Tiero, Australian Open Winner 2009 Francis Alcantara among others. Forty-four players will be vying for this year’s cup.
The tournament will run until March 21, 2010.
Lagman was given a slot to the main draw in the men’s open tournament this year by the Philippines Tennis Association.
“We believe that Jacob is already capable of playing against our country’s best,” said Julie Lagman, Jacob’s mother. She said they felt it is a great opportunity for Jacob to play his best.
Jacob was at the Academia Sanchez Casal in Barcelona, Spain from March to June last year.
He was the youngest and lone Cebuano in the three-month program which had eight trainees from Dubai, Argentina, Russia, US, Morroco,Brazil and Puerto Rico.
Jacob is scheduled again to train outside the country this year. His parents did not yet give details of the said training.