Cebuano Pantino rules 14-U class in Henry Lee tennis

DESPITE  a sudden change in schedule, Cebu’s Arthur Craig “Igi” Diaz Pantino was still able to bag the 14-under title with no sweat in the 4th Henry Lee Memorial Age-Group Tennis Championships held at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.

The third seeded Pantino was still playing his semifinal match against fellow Cebuano Jan Godfrey Seno when organizers put up a sign that the finals will be played at 3 p.m. (yesterday) when it was supposed to be played today.

Pantino’s father got worried because his son would have to play three matches all-in-all under the intense heat of the sun.

However, Pantino of the University of San Carlos allayed his dad’s fears as after prevailing over a super tiebreak against Seno, 7-5, 1-6 (10-4), in the semifinal round, he went on to thrash 2nd seed Jerome Romualdez, 6-1, 6-1, for the title.

Earlier in the day, Pantino succumbed to top seed Lance Canizares, 2-6, 3-6, in the quarterfinal round of the 16-under.

Kristin Renee Salimbangon is also making a splash in the girls division after reaching the finals in the 12-under category by crushing Betina Bautista, 6-1, 6-0.  /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON