Norman Enriquez in action during the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) Dagitab Festival regional tennis tournament at the Naga City Tennis Club in Naga, southern Cebu. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
Losing can either break or make someone stronger. And in Norman Enriquez’s case yesterday, a loss made him a better player as he advanced to the final round of the 18-under boys division of the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) Dagitab Festival regional tennis tournament at the Naga City Tennis Club in Naga town, southern Cebu.
The 17-year-old Enriquez started the day with a sorry 2-6, 3-6 loss to Philippine No.1 Johnny Arcilla at the start of the men’s open play.
But instead of sulking in defeat, the Cebuano player picked up the pieces and pulled off a masterful 6-1, 6-2 win over RJ Singson to advance to the 18-under final round.
Enriquez will contend for the crown against the winner in the Clyde Laquio-Lemuel Garbosa match, which was still being played as of this writing.
In the 16-under boys division, University of Cebu’s Venz Alforque moved a win away from the title after surviving Mark Albarracin, 6-3, 6-3.
Alforque will fight for the crown today against Nilo Ledama.
Meanwhile in men’s open division, Arcilla is set to battle Mark Gayo in the second round today after the latter defeated Ricardo Lagac, 6-3, 6-3.
In other games today, Argil Canizares and Bryan Otico will go up against each other after beating their respective Cebuano opponents.
Canizares defeated Dumanjug, Cebu’s Franklin Encarnacion, 6-3, 6-4, while Otico blew past Amiel Aya-ay, 6-1, 6-0.