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Newcomers take spotlight
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Posted on Apr 22 2005
With veteran netters dominating the headlines the past few days, players new to the island’s tennis scene made some noise Thursday night in the 2nd Annual Toyota Tennis Tournament at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.
Beginner Leriza Debrum made a successful debut in competitive tennis, beating fellow neophyte Lenny Panteleon in straight sets in the women’s 2.0 singles.
Debrum, who works for Verizon, said she was a bit nervous playing in her first tournament but enjoyed the workout nonetheless.
Her match with Panteleon was marked with long rallies from the baseline with both players obviously trying to get the hang of tournament-level play.
But Debrum took advantage of her quickness to the ball and easily took the first set. She duplicated her performance in the second as Panteleon was a little slower to the neon green orb and won in a score of 6-1, 6-2.
Orly De Leon joined Debrum in the winners’ circle when the diminutive netter book-ended Vener Orena 6-0, 3-6, 6-0 in the men’s 2.0 singles. Roy Ocanada also is safely into the next round of the beginners’ division after soundly beating Ruselle De Vera 6-0, 6-2.
In the men’s 3.0, Aramis Dailo recorded a shutout win over John Jenkins 6-0, 6-0, and Yesman Gurung edged Hum Roka in two tightly fought sets 6-4, 6-3.
Toshi Beltau and John Wayne Kentaro, meanwhile, advanced to the Elite Eight of the men’s 4.0 following wins over separate rivals.
Beltau tormented Eric Mahinay in their showdown to win 6-1, 6-1, while Kentaro had a harder time against Ramon Angeles before prevailing 6-1, 7-5.
Doubles teammates Richard Asuncion and Johnny Johnson, meanwhile, seem to have found the success that eluded them a week ago playing solo.
Asuncion is in the quarterfinals following a 6-1, 6-4 win over youth netter Keith Gabaldon, while Johnson pulled out all the stops in beating veteran Bong Gamab 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
