Championships set today
Riyadh – Seasoned tennisters will battle it out in the Championships of the 1st Pinoy Netters Singles Cup due Friday, January 9, at the Al Yamama Hotel Tennis Courts here.
Veteran Leo Barinan of Maaden Company and a teener RJ Suarez in the Higher B Category will slug it out while another seasoned tennister, Jess Butalid, will play against upcoming shotmaker, Gener Marasigan.
In the semifinals last January 6, Barinan came on the brinks of defeat in the second and third sets but emerged victorious with a hard-fought win over the multi-awarded Jeck Olaguer, 4-6, 6-5, 7-6. He is to meet in the finals today Suarez who was ruthless in his demolition of another veteran tennister, Roy Repollo, 6-0, 6-1.
In Lower B Category, Butalid will battle it out with Marasigan after both players posted convincing wins over their highly-favored opponents.
Butalid secured the finals berth when he prevailed over another experienced player, Dennis de Castro, in two sets, 6-4, 6-5. Marasigan, on the other hand, made it to the championship with a victory over aggressive and upcoming tennister, Darwin Suson, in two sets, 6-1, 6-3.
Meanwhile, in the Lower C Category, Jojo Romano captured the Championships in a nail-biting final against rising Terence Mongcal, 6-3, 6-5.
It was an uphill battle for Romano who was able to turn the table on Mongcal after the latter held a 5-2 lead in the second set. Mongcal got many chances when he secured the upper hand just after Romano broke his racquet string but could not capitalize on it as he became tentative and committed too many unforced errors.
In Higher C, Arnel Pineda showed the court brilliance he displayed in the earlier rounds when he routed Roel Genson overwhelmingly, 6-0, 6-1.
Earlier, Suarez trounced the veteran Lemuel Habban, in two but long-concluded sets, 6-3, 6-2. Likewise, in the round of 16, Marasigan prevailed over seasoned player, Peter Manalo, carving out a hard-fought win in three sets, 6-5, 5-6, 7-1.
Pineda came through to the finals when he got past Edison Lallana in the semifinals last December 27, carving out a convincing win in two sets, 6-2, 6-1. Gem Beringuel
