GENERAL SANTOS CITY—Mindanao and Puerto Princesa City got off to a rousing start with quick victories in tennis and sepak takraw yesterday in the 7th BIMP-Eaga Friendship Games here.
Jenni Celine Dizon and Precean Rivera of Mindanao forged an all-Filipino title clash after toying with their respective foes in the semifinals of women’s tennis singles.
Dizon, a high school junior from Ateneo de Davao, easily subdued Janice Chong of Sabah, Malaysia, 6-1, 6-2, before the 16-year-old Rivera, who hails from Tupi, South Cotabato, thrashed Sabah’s Joanne Chong, 6-2, 6-1, at the city courts.
“She (Rivera) definitely has the skill and stamina,” said the 15-year-old Dizon. “I hope to keep up with her and aim for the win.”
Puerto Princesa City foiled Mindanao’s initial salvo in sepak takraw after the trio of Kaiko Ravina, Mil Joseph Apdon and Jeferd Rugay bested Romel Moriones, Bille Villanueva and Alfred Enecito, 3-1, in the regu event held at Notre Dame University of Dadiangas.
Puerto Princesa took the first two sets, 17-16, 16-14, but relaxed in the next and lost 15-12. Apdon and Rugay then sealed Puerto Princesa’s win in the fourth set, 15-12.
Hostilities in the four-nation tournament were halted for almost three hours early in the afternoon as athletes and officials watched a live feed of the fight between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Medal-rich athletics and swimming take centerstage today in the four-day event supported by Marathon sepak takraw equipment, Pacman Pambansang Tubig, SM City General Santos and Dunlop-Slazenger.
Mindanao’s Rubylito Saga made short work of Ak Md Rafiuddudin Izzul Islam of Brunei, 6-1, 6-1, in the second round of boys’ tennis singles.
Stefan Walter Alex will meet Saga in the semifinals following a 6-4, 7-6 win over Mohamad Zaki Pauzi of Sawarak in the Games organized to enhance cooperation and unity of BIMP-Eaga member countries Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.