Andre Grimmick Banate indeed wrapped up his debut match triumph in the 2009 Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) secondary boys’ lawn tennis. And only few minutes following his win, he traveled back to Davao City to be with his fellow third year students for the school’s traditional junior prom.
Banate, 15, crushed Davao Oriental top bet John Roque Delfinan, 8 – 1 in the boy’s single event to the delight of the Bansalenos who witnessed the match at the Municipal Tennis Court here.
His victory was a moral-booster to the four-man secondary boy’s tennis squad under Editha Natividad.
Banate, who won the boys 16 years old division crown in the recent Pahalipay ni Mayor Rody Duterte sa Pasko Age Group Tennis Championships, was expected back in this agricultural town early today before his second game at around 10 or 11 am.
Joining the multi-titled age-grouper and veteran Palarong Pambansa campaigner in the core were Rahhasai Dean Reyes, Joel Cabusas and Norman Fritz Gerald Canonigo, all from Sta. Ana National High School.
In another match, John Victor Balenteros of City of Mati trounced Valeriano Barro of Digos City, 8 – 6 while Elvie Lopez of Island Garden City of Samal defeated Kevin Joseph Amazona OF Davao Oriental, 8 – 0.
Comval’s Reamuib Calamba beat Davao del Norte bet Gerald Alfredo, 8 – 2.
In Elementary Girls, Davao del Sur opened its quest for back-to-back title on a high note as the daughter of a tricycle driver father and public school teacher mother pulled away with a huge victory.
Eleven-year-old Juninah Repulles won her opening match by besting Sheena Gealon of Digos City, 8 – 1 in the singles event.
“I just played hard with my forehand power shots that clobbered my opponent,“ said Repulles, a Grade 5 student at the Hagonoy Central Elementary School.
Davao City's Sameya Bordas bowed down however, to Jennifer Rubia of Davao Oriental. The duo of Eunel Bandog and Gladys Melloria also lost their opening match at the hands of Jhulie Elle and Rochelle Villarente of City of Mati in the doubles competition.
Davraa is a selection process for the Davao Region delegation to the 2009 Palarong Pambansa slated April 26 to May 2 in Tacloban City. (Rico Biliran / Mindanews)