RP netters lose matches to Hong Kong rivals

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Team Philippines, where Davao City netter Juan Paolo Cansino is a member, lost its first two matches in the World Junior Tennis Asia/Oceania Qualifying at the East Lake Tennis courts in Shenzen, China. The RP bets bowed to Hong Kong, 0-3, on Monday then lost on the same note opposite China, 0-3, Tuesday. Cansino, ranked number 2 in the RP 14-under category who is studying at the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU), succumbed to Hong Kong's Chun Hun Wong, 2-6, 0-6, in the second singles match, while teammate RP number 1 Arjohn de la Cruz lost to Siu Fai Lam, 1-6, 0-6, in first singles. Cansino and RP number 3 Enrique Gabriel Ferrer also suffered a defeat at the hands of Lam and Yau Long Fung, 1-6, 0-6 in doubles. In the match against China, Cansino was beaten by Zhao Cai, 1-6, 1-6, while de la Cruz was defeated by Jun-Nan Tao (0-6, 0-6) and Cansino-de la Cruz' pair bowed to Tao and Xin Gao, 2-6, 1-6 in Group 2. The Philippines will have yet to play against New Zealand in the qualifying meet for the World Junior Tennis Championship. New Zealand lost to Hong Kong and China with similar 0-3 scores. Cansino's mother, Merlie, said in the vernacular: "Whether my son wins or loses, he's already a winner being given the rare opportunity to represent the country in an international tournament." She told Sun.Star Davao in an interview Tuesday that Paolo worked hard for his ranking, adding: "he joined just every Philta-sanctioned event and does his best to win to earn ranking points." "We are truly proud of him. This is his very firs time to compete abroad," she said. Philta shouldered all traveling expenses of the Filipino netters while the host city took care of the accommodations including meals.- Sun.Star Davao