Pinoy netters gain ground

If you check out the recent results of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger series, you’ll notice Fil-Am campaigners Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino–who used to be identified as US players–are now carrying the Philippine colors.

Randy Villanueva said it’s the first time he’s seen the country initials PHI in the main draw of an ATP event in a long, long time and he’s ecstatic. "Thanks, Cecil and Eric," he texted. "Go, Philippines."

Mamiit and Taino anchored the Philippine men’s team that won the gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games here last December. Additionally, Mamiit captured the men’s singles championship and Taino partnered with Riza Zalameda to claim the mixed doubles gold.

Villanueva referred to two recent Challenger series tournaments where Mamiit and Taino played.

At the Hilton Waikoloa Village Challenger tournament last Jan. 23-30, Mamiit and Michael Kohlmann of Germany swept the opposition to bag the men’s doubles crown. Taipei’s Yen Shun Lu and Wayne Odesnik of the US were the pair’s first victims via a 6-4, 6-3 trouncing. Then, A. J. Bartlett of the US and New Zealand’s Adam Thompson fell on a 6-1, 6-0 romp. In the semifinals, Mamiit and Kohlmann edged Goran Dragicevic and Canada’s Frederic Niemeyer, 7-5, 7-6 (3). And in the finals, they crushed Scott Lipsky and David Martin, 6-3, 6-4.

Mamiit was still designated as a US player in the joust but at the USTA (United States Tennis Association) Challenger of Dallas last Feb. 6-11, he was identified as a Filipino. So was Taino who advanced to the quarterfinals of the $50,000 tilt.

Unfortunately, Mamiit lost his first match in the main draw, dropping a 6-4, 7-6 decision to Andreas Beck of Germany.

The unseeded Taino scored an upset in his first outing, disposing of seventh-seed Rik de Voest of South Africa, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. He went on to eliminate Tobias Clemens of Germany, 7-6 (3), 6-0 and bowed to top seed Justin Gimelstob of the US, 7-5, 6-3, in the quarterfinals.

Mamiit and Taino are expected to play for the Philippines again at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, late this year.

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>In case you missed it, the La Salle mens and women’s tennis teams recently clinched the UAAP (University Athletic Association of the Philippines) championships.

The men’s squad took the title via a sweep of the double round series, surprising defending champion University of Sto. Tomas (UST). Skipper and MVP Yannick Guba, Rookie of the Year Nico Riego de Dios and another rookie Jandrick de Castro were unbeaten in singles play in the first round.

The climax came at the Rizal Racket Tennis Courts in Pasig last Feb. 12 when La Salle beat UST, formally ending the Growling Tigers’ reign. In the first singles match, de Dios shocked UST No. 1 Pius Ocampo, 6-3, 6-3. The doubles pair of J. R. Moreno and Edu Diez of La Salle then upset the unbeaten UST tandem of Maclean Barraquias and Allan Alfafara, 6-1, 6-3.

Jordan Cimafranca of UST outclassed de Castro, 7-5, 7-5, in the second singles match. But Pereme Alina and Miguel Pantua of La Salle delivered to seal the deal for the Archers, repulsing previously undefeated Wilbur Orillano and Alexander Diego, 7-5, 6-4.

Guba’s match against Keff Gamana was academic since La Salle had an unreachable 3-1 advantage. La Salle pocketed the title with eight straight wins–the first time the Archers clinched in a sweep since 1995 when they were bannered by now coaches Roland Kraut and Taddy Cruz.

In the women’s division, the Lady Archers battled UST in an exciting playoff. MVP Catherine Flores of La Salle drubbed UST’s Tina Santos, 6-2, 6-3, in the first singles match. UST countered by taking the first doubles match over Lourdes Binoya and Sherry Rose Ong, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6. Michelle Panis brought La Salle back in the driver’s seat with a 3-6, 6-3, 5-3 (retired) win over cramps-stricken Melody Barraquias.

UST leveled the series count at 2-all as May Herrera and Joan Bibal dumped Krissy Alina and Nisha Hemlani, 6-0, 6-1. In the decider, La Salle’s Maryann Luy overcame Ofelia Arribe, 6-2, 7-6.

In their valedictory, Kraut and Cruz paid tribute to team managers Bobby de Ocampo and Vince Pacheco for their all-out support. "From our preparation since June, the team-building, the training, the tune-up tournaments and the UAAP itself, they supported us all the way," said Kraut. "Many thanks also to the Office of Sports Development and to Johnny Valdes for his additional support."

La Salle has now won four straight women’s and two men’s titles in the last four years.

"We’re looking forward to being a force in the UAAP next year and for many years to come," said Kraut. "So in the midst of the current La Salle fiasco, the tennis team can serve as an inspiration to the La Salle and UAAP communities."

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