Asuncions put up brave stand

Kennevic and Kennie Asuncion didn’t mind losing to a European pair ranked 10th in the world.

What was important, the Pinoy siblings said after the match, was that they managed to put up a fight, a real good fight, before their cheering countrymen.

"Like in any other sport, you need to face a better opponent for you to get better," said Kennevic after he and sister Kennie bowed to Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl, 24-22, 17-21, 18-21.

"And all you can do is work harder and harder. Because even in losing, you get to learn a lot of things," added the 26-year-old Kennevic.

"We’re just happy that we came close to them. But you know it was hard," said Kenny, at 20, enjoying a great career that’s bound to get ever greater.

"We just want to thank the fans and hopefully we’ll do better next year. Definitely it was a big help that people were cheering for us. It gives you more energy. It really helps," she added.

The Asuncions, ranked 21st in the world, brought the house down on several occasions.

After trailing 5-10 in the opening set, the bouncing Pinoy pair launched a big comeback. Aided by the crowd, they racked up point after point and, slowly but surely, managed to catch up.

A long rally that ended with a Kennevic smash tied the score at 18, and the crowd went wild. He raised both hands, facing the crowd, asking them to keep cheering them on.

After a 20-20 score, some extra points were needed to decide the opening set, at 17 minutes probably the longest and most exciting in the three-day tournament.

There were six deadlocks and five lead changes in the first set alone. And the end came when Kennevic hit a forehand that Laybourn wrongfully thought was wide.

In the second set, the Europeans who are both a head taller than the net got their game going. They raced to an 8-4 lead, then 11-6, and 17-11, before cruising on.

Midway through the set, Laybourn sought a break due to an unattended wet portion on their court. He used his own towel to wipe it off, and used the same one to wipe his face.

The crowd went ummm.

The Asuncions got off to a good start in the third and final set as they took a 4-1 lead. But the Europeans were there to stay, winning another long, exciting rally to level the count at 6-6.

Laybourn and Rytter Juhl won four of the next five points but the Asuncions countered with four of their own unanswered points for an 11-10 edge.

It proved to be their last.

Armed with a second wind, the Europeans went on a blast and in just a matter of time went up 19-13. And for the first time in the match, they both smiled on the court.

A late rally by the Asuncions proved just that. Europe gained match point when Kennevic hit a forehand long, and wrapped up the 57-minute contest when Kennie failed to handle a Laybourn smash.

It was the end of the match, and the beginning of a great day for the Europeans. — Abac Cordero