Naga, 3 other clubs off to winning starts

Naga, Cebu City, PHO and Mandaue City tennis clubs checked in two tandems each to the second round of the M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation (MLSDF)-organized 1st M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cup Inter-Club Commercial Tennis Tournament at the Baseline tennis courts.

Naga Mayor Val Chiong and Nante Reponte played in perfect harmony to outgun Pardo TC's Atty. Fred Sipalay and Windel Abellanosa, 8-5, and become the first quarterfinalist in the week-long netfest governed by knockout format.

Rigor Gurea and Vennox Garcia were the second tandem from Naga to advance into the next phase after booting out Cebu City Tennis Club's Rey Legaspi and Tomas Misa, 8-5.

Cebu City TC quickly bounced back with two of its pairs in Joel Cortez/Czar Melencion and Titing Antig/Danny Peteros getting past their first round obstacles.

Cortez and Melencion terminated Compostela TC's Warren Alibio and Doque Arceo, 8-6, while Antig and Peteros toiled hard before scraping through an 8-7 thriller over PHO's Tonton Dunado and Oca Campo.

Despite losing one of its bets, PHO still has something to cheer about after Gingging Dutusite and Tony Lopez breezed through the second round together with Henry Palban and Master Tapia.

Dutusite and Lopez eliminated Naga TC's Nestor Sentor and Alpio Canton, 8-6, while Palban and Tapia plunged the axe on Dumanjug TC's Rex Boquecosa and Corper Bionez via an 8-6 decision.

Not to be outdone, Mandaue City TC also scored double in the opening round behind the efforts of Demith Antigua, Zaldy Gonzalez, Popoy Lumpayaw, and Lito Tenepre.

Antigua and Gonzalez bumped out La Paloma TC's Edgar Manubag and Mayong Palamo in convincing fashion, 8-4, while Lumpayaw and Tenepre terminated another La Paloma entry Glen Valenzona and Tibong Bacalso, 8-6.

Joining the winners' circle during the rain-disrupted first round of action were Jerry Abad and Bryant Kintanar of Southern Islands Medical Center, who pushed Cebu City TC's Rangkol Gubllemer and Larry Pescadero to the exit, 8-6.