Jacob Lagman sets aside college studies to train abroad

CEBU, Philippines - Multi-titled Cebuano netter Jacob Lagman has made a very tough decision in his life and that is giving up something valuable to him. Not tennis, but his schooling.

All for the love of the game, Lagman decided not to pursue his college studies yet after graduating from high school at Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu so he can focus training in tennis abroad.

It was a difficult decision that the Lagman family has contemplated for a long time.

Unlike other potential players who want to finish college first before focusing on sports, Lagman wants to explore all possibilities left in him in tennis while he is still young.

Whatever the outcome of his year-long training in Europe will determine Lagman’s next move.

“Yeah, stop sa ko sa akong studies for a year or more if everything looks good,” Lagman told The FREEMAN.

Lagman, who left the country last month, is currently training in Basel, Switzerland.

Showing how serious he is, Lagman said he is going to join all competitions he can while in Europe.

So far, Lagman had joined the Zermatt Open, said to be the biggest tournament in the area he is in right now.

Since Lagman had no Swiss ranking, he had to go through a qualifying round, which he said was a very tough one.

“I won my first round match but lost in the second. It was a very good experience for me since it was played on artificial grass courts and was played in the mountains (high altitude). Most players that participated had an ATP rank or former top 200 in the ATP. There's no question why they played in that tournament because the prize money was good. The brother of Stanislas Wawrinka was also playing in that tournament and was also in the qualifying draw,” said the former Junior Davis Cupper.

If plans don’t miscarry, Lagman will be in Austria on July 30 for a Futures event.

If Lagman wins a round in the main draw, he will already get an ATP ranking points. “Most probably, I still have to get through qualifying since I don't have points yet,” he said.   - THE FREEMAN