Puerto Princesa strikes big in the first day of MRAA

HOST Puerto Princesa City delegation stood tall by reaping three of four golds at stake in lawn tennis in the first day of action to serve notice of its quest to regain the overall title in the 2008 MIMAROPA Regional Meet at the newly-refurbished Ramon V. Mitra Jr. Sports Complex in Barangay Sta. Monica.

It was an auspicious start for the young and promising tennisters Linda Marie Santos, April Santos and Cherry Mae Gilongos, who overcame first day jitters en route to winning the first gold for the host team at the expense of archrival Palawan, 2-0, in the secondary girls team competition.

Not to be outdone, Francisco Santos, Alexis Philipp Blanza and Michael Ernie Rodriguez followed suit by winning the gold in the elementary boys lawn tennis team competition via another 2-0 shutout over Palawan Province.

The third gold came from Micah Tam-od, Krizhelle Sampatan and Alexis Ogvendo also in the elementary girls team competition at the expense of Palawan, 2-0.

The PPC’s secondary boys team of Jaime Benito Prieto, John Timbancaya failed to live-up to expectation as they lost to Mindoro Oriental, 1-2, to settle for the silver medal in the team competition event.

Coaches Rodento Cervantes and Cherryll Guyan expressed elation over the performance of the tennisters, who vowed to win more golds for their beloved Puerto Princesa City.