JOSEPH TALLO failed to arrest his slump as he absorbed an early exit in yesterday’s start of the 4th Mandaue City Mayor’s Junior Tennis Cup at the Mandaue City tennis courts.
Tallo ended his campaign after losing a tightly contested match against Januel Bracasa, 9-10, in the 18-under boys category. Bracasa was on a roll as he earlier defeated Mark Pogoy, 10-0.
Other players who advanced in the category were Junel Espinosa, who defeated Mark Amodia, 10-6; and Francis Otida, who dismissed Peter Paul Minoza, 10-3. However, Otida later bowed out of the competition after losing to Mark Bienes, 10-8, in the next round.
In the 16-Under boys, nine tennisters advanced to the next round.
The march was led Clyde Dale Bienes, who ruled two matches yesterday against Jeve Pepito, 10-6; and Joshua Bendoy, 10-4.
Other winners were Jarryd Laurel, who blanked Glen Bayucot, 10-0; Marc Norman Enriquez, who outclassed Aaron James Suyo, 10-0; John Michael Necesario, who outsmarted Brant Mangapis, 10-3; Christian Soon, who routed Alfred Yaranon, 10-2; and Ralp Juliane, who dismissed Jenuel Judilla, 10-2.
Suyo earlier defeated Gideon Huyo-a, 10-4; Yaranon dominated Alley Berdin, 10-2; and Judilla edged Alfrancis Arnold Amodia, 10-9, before all three bowed to their respective opponents in the succeeding round.
In the 12-Under boys, leading the winners into the next round was Rey Toledo with his 10-4 domination of Dale Estonio.
Following in his tracks were Romel Lopez, who sneaked past Cesar Laborte, 10-9; Nathaniel Alipe, who whipped John Mark Abad, 10-7; and Clyde Laguio, who edged Zudie Balundo, 10-8./CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON