CEBU, Philippines - Little-known Francis Lambayan and Joshua Kinaadman hurdled their respective opening assignments to brighten up what was a rather gloomy day for the Cebuanos in the 2009 Head Penn Age-Group Tennis Tournament at the Praxivilla tennis courts in Dumaguete City.
Lambayan and Kinaadman both won their boys 12-under matches, but they had to pass through tough challenge before getting past separate foes.
Lambayan pulled a 6-2, 7-5 victory against Rommel Orbeta, while Lambayan overcame a three-set thriller against Van Abistado, 6-1, 3-7, 10-7.
However, three other Cebuanos under the Sancase Developmental Training Pool of Fr. Rey Talaugon crumbled in the opening round. They were Derek Tabotabo, Jan Godfrey Seno and Nino Mari Stefan Baylosis.
Seno and Tabotabo both faltered in the 12-under class, but hope to bounce back in the unisex 10-under today.
Seno bowed to Carl Cathedral, 2-6, 6-4, 10-5, while Tabotabo fell prey to Ramil Jomalod, 6-1,7-6,10-8.
Baylosis, for his part, suffered a humiliating 0-6, 0-6 defeat at the hands of Bruce Masquete in the boys 18-under division.
Meanwhile, Siso siblings Nino and Sallymae enjoyed a first round bye, while the rest of the Cebuano entries were still waiting for their time to play as of this writing. — Caecent No-ot Magsumbol (THE FREEMAN)