Pangelinan, Ashraf sizzle in Mixed Doubles

It’s not over until it’s over.

The dynamic duo of Roy Pangelinan and Kanani Ashraf certainly proved that phrase true in the Mixed Doubles 5.0 Division last Sunday at the American Memorial Park tennis courts, storming back from a hefty deficit to advance in the ongoing Verizon Cup.

Pangelinan and Ashraf fought off a solid effort by Lope Padilla and Cleofe Santos to leave with the hard-earned 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 victory.

The two got off to a slow start and dropped the first two games of the first set as Padilla and Santos covered the court well. Pangelinan and Ashraf would close to within a point on several occassions—3-4 and 4-5—but Padilla and Santos would muster just enough energy to win the ninth game of the set for a one-set advantage.

Momentum quickly shifted to Pangelinan and Ashraf’s corner as they opened the second set with a furious attack that found little response from their opponents. Pangelinan found success with his first serve and the duo strolled back to dominate the entire set to pull even at a set apiece.

Padilla and Santos, however, would not falter easily as they remained determined, kept their poise, and swung the advantage back to their corner by taking the first two games of the third set. They held a 3-1 lead when Ashraf and Pangelinan orchestrated another comeback punch.

Padilla and Santos would win just one point the rest of the way as Ashraf and Pangelinan took over and never looked back to secure the win.

In other matches, the one-two punch of Buddy Garote and Arlene Osma looked sharp in the Mixed Doubles 4.0 Division, cruising to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Babu Malayil and Masako Kitaoka while the father-daughter tandem of Dr. Muhammad Ashraf and Kanani easily made their past Joe Motto and Sally Wong 6-2, 6-2. Also, Mayuko Arriola and Reo Arriola won in straight sets over Richard Asuncion and Audrey Motto 6-3, 6-4.

The Mixed Doubles 3.0 Division featured Marlon Estigoy and Ligaya Paculanang posting a 6-3, 6-3 win over Mina Solomon and Elemen Solomon while Agnes Salazas and Malayil slipped past Osma and Noel Dognidon in three sets 6-3, 4-6, and 6-4.

In the Men’s Singles 5.0, top-seed Faheem Ebrahim had little trouble against Ed Johnson, sweeping the match with a 6-1, 6-0 win, while Peter Loyola and Tim Quan notched respective victories as well. Loyola had his way against Asuncion 6-1, 6-1 while Quan had a tough draw yet still came out over Nicolas Son 7-6, 4-6, 6-3.

The Men’s 4.0 featured Renato Espanola defeating Matt Buenavajo 6-7 (2-7), 7-5, 6-1; Noel Domingo beating Gannover Retin 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; Ronnie Lacbayo edging Jess Pacheco 7-5, 6-4; Tony Santos beating Hector Benitez 7-6, 2-6, 6-1; and Nap Regalado defeating Jonathan Frasco 6-3, 6-3.

In the Men’s 3.0, Dr. Gary Ramsey defeated Yesmen Gurung 6-2, 6-3; Ed Taniegra beat Roy Banados 6-2, 6-4; Fr. Ryan Jimenez slipped past Alvin Francisco 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-3), 6-2; Mario Buensuceso edged Keith Gabaldon 7-6, 7-5; Noel Manalang pulled a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over M. Robert; and Ed Casing eliminated Leo Intervalo 6-1, 6-4.

Abner Venus defeated Joe Motto Jr. in the Men’s 2.0 6-2, 6-4 while Dennis Macatangay soared past Reggie Reyes 6-4, 6-2.