Looking out for No. 1

Five of the six seeded singles players advanced to the next round in the 2nd Annual Taga Tennis Tournament at the American Memorial Park tennis courts Friday evening.

Top seed Jess Pacheco needed three sets, two tiebreakers, and two days just to finish off men’s 4.0 newcomer Mike Roberts.

The fiery veteran was hobbled by a foot injury the entire game and didn’t get any sympathy from the crowd, who rooted almost to a man for the underdog Roberts.

Pacheco did salvage a win in the opening set that was highlighted by a line call argument that brought in an umpire to serve as the third man on the court.

Roberts used his longer reach and steady volleying skills to full potential in the second set to force a tiebreaker. Pacheco at this point was clearly frustrated not only by his lack of mobility but also by the throng of watchers siding with the American.

It was a nip-and-tuck tiebreak with Roberts eking out the win following an error by his opponent to force a third and deciding third set.

The rubber set was as fiercely fought as the first two. Roberts would go ahead 4-3 on a diving crosscourt drop shot. But the teacher paid a big price for the acrobatic stunt as he fell down on the concrete, an obvious victim of cramps.

After a 15-minute injury timeout, Roberts tried to soldier on but couldn’t control Pacheco’s deep groundstrokes and short volleys, as the part-time basketball referee took the driver’s seat 5-4. Pacheco was three points away from breaking Roberts and winning the protracted match in the 10th game when the first raindrops fell on the tennis court.

Officials eventually had to postpone the game as well as a handful of others when the slight drizzle turned into a torrent.

Pacheco and Roberts continued their match the next day and Roberts seemed to benefit the most from the rest. Roberts retook the lead, 6-5, against a still limping Pacheco and was serving for the match when Pacheco marshaled what’s left of his reserves to force another tiebreak.

In the race-to-seven tiebreak, Pacheco would build on his momentum to take a 5-3 advantage. But Roberts was not going away quietly and won the next two points, 5-5. Pacheco came back to win the next point and needed one more to wrap up the match. Hoping for an ace, Pacheco settled for the next best thing, as Roberts found the net on his return to end the marathon match in a score of 7-5, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-5).

In the other men’s 4.0 match that ended Friday, fourth seed Cris Nelson defeated John Wayne Kentaro 6-2, 6-4.

Daniel Son had some nervous moments in his encounter with compatriot Alex Lee in the men’s open. But the top seeded Korean went on to win 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Nanding Cajigan and Buddy Garote also prevailed in the men’s 4.5 division. Cajigan eased out mild-mannered Edwin Maratas in a marathon three-setter, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), while Garote outplayed Gannover Rettin 6-1, 6-2.

Men’s 3.0 top seed Gary Ramsey and fourth seed Doi Ligan of Tinian, meanwhile, barely escaped the upset axe against unseeded players.

Christophe Bertin surprised Ramsey in the opening set before the No. 1 seed dominated the next two to win 3-6, 6-1, 6-1. Yesman Gurung, on the other hand, tested Ligan to the hilt but Ligan came out on top 6-4, 6-2.

Second seed Father Ryan Jimenez wasn’t as fortunate though, as he fell to baseliner Raj Rai in two hard-fought sets 7-5, 7-6 (7-5).

Qiu Yong Zhe was again brilliant in his second round assignment against Vener Urena, almost repeating his opening round shutout with 6-0, 6-1 victory.

In the mixed double 3.0, the pair of Manny Jaraplasan and Merli Hudkins turned back Ricky Castro and Asun Demapan 6-3, 6-4. Ligaya Paculanang and Lemuel Arabelo also were victorious in their game against Phil Kalen and Elen Uy.