ATHLETICS

Xavier Netters on the Go
Gabriel Ruaro (H3A), Tennis Varsity Player

Posted Wednesday, 23-Nov-2005 8:54 AM

      At the tennis courts of International School of Manila (ISM), the Xavier High School Tennis Team continued its winning streak by overpowering Saint Benedict’s High School Alabang and De La Salle Zobel (DLSZ) High School 4-1 and 3-2, respectively last November 12. The two victories carried forth the momentum from the team’s win over La Salle Lipa 1 two Saturdays ago. The team is now enjoying a 3-meet winning streak in their Inter-School Tennis Association (ISTA) tournament.

      This recent run of success started in the most unlikely of circumstances. Last October 29, Xavier was languishing at the bottom of their group standings with a 0-2 mark after falling to both Colegio de San Agustin and Marist School 5-0. Going into the meet against La Salle Lipa I, the Xaverians were the decided underdog, not only because they were winless at that point, but also because they were shorthanded, with half the team abroad for the semester break. In addition, the team’s morale was not boosted by Erwin Yap’s heartbreaking 8-6 defeat to his La Sallian opponent.

      However, the team showed its grit by responding with 2 hard-fought singles wins from Klentz Chua and Gabriel Ruaro, despite Chua breaking a string and Ruaro sustaining a mild sprain. The team had a chance to clinch the meet victory when Chua and Ruaro teamed up for the first doubles match, but the Xaverians fell 8-7 to the La Sallian pair in a tiebreak. With the meet score tied at 2-2, the fate of the meet was to be decided with a rematch of the just-concluded doubles match. The team in blue and gold prevailed, taking the match 8-4.

      Still relishing the sweetness of their first league victory, the boys strode out onto the ISM courts with renewed confidence. Because Coach Robbie dela Cruz was accompanying his 4F class during its SM Immersion, team captain Luis Locsin, who was not able to play the last time out, took over leadership duties. Also returning for the team were Daniel Sto. Domingo and Jose Luis Mercado.

      The first meet was Xavier against St. Benedict’s High School Alabang. Xavier raced out to a 1-0 lead when Chua overwhelmed his opponent 8-0, and the lead swiftly grew to 3-0 with wins from Mercado and Locsin. Sto. Domingo and Yap teamed for the first doubles, and although they played well, they lost to the Benedictine pair. Locsin returned for the second doubles alongside partner Ruaro, they sealed the first win of the day by winning 8-5.

       After a 2-hour lunch break, the boys returned to the courts to take on their second opponents, the Green Archers from DLSZ. In the first singles match, Chua was defeated, but Mercado evened up the meet with a stunning 8-0 rout of his opponent. Things weren’t looking too good for Xavier after Locsin fell to Zobel’s best player, and the meet score at 2-1 in favor of the archers, but the team never lost hope.

     The team of Sto. Domingo and Yap avenged their loss earlier in the day by crushing their opponents 8-0. The 2-2 deadlock was to be broken by the second doubles match to be contested between Xaver’s pairing of Locsin and Ruaro and La Salle ’s best doubles team. Xavier raced out to a 5-0 lead, and never looked back as they pulled sealed the match, and the meet, with a convincing 8-4 win.

      The netters will next take on Brent International School, with a semifinal berth at stake at the CSA Tennis courts.

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