CASS Studes’ Clash In Palakasan Lawn Tennis

By Mark Frederick Magallanes

CASS- Felip Vincent Gelaga and Ave Eragan smashed out COE’s Edberg Dulanas and Renzo Amozona in their back to back championship matches in lawn tennis men’s category, during the recently concluded PALAKASAN 2012. Gelaga and Eragan outcasted their rivals, 8-2, 8-5 in a single set, two-game play finale.

The championship game fired out as Gelaga juiced up and became the gaffer of the first match. Gelaga got a one point advantage after he successfully caught a spinning ball with a forceful backhand and returning the ball to Dulanas’ court, giving the latter a no good come back. But no matter how outrageous it sounds, Gelaga remained on the radar screen of Dulanas. After being a part of the championship matches in lawn tennis men for several years, Dulanas wanted to prove his worth one more time.

The game intensified more as Dulana’s made it to the score board with his raging forehand-backhand drives in the second rally. Gelaga however, maintained his buoyancy by rising up his defensive tactics in the succeeding rallies. The next set of rallies became even more jaw-breaking as the two players exchanged vigorous and dynamic under spins and topspins.

The set ended, 8-2 Gelega being on top of Dulanas.

On the other hand, in a final full of lengthy, mesmerizing points, the last year’s champion Eragan claimed his throne.

My rival is really a good player. He has been representing his college since then and he always shows up in the finals, Eragan said.

I have a title to defend. And for me and Renzo, the dispute for the title did not solely lie upon on who is a better player or who played the game well. I guess I won because I believe in victory more, Eragan added.

Apparently, Eragan is confident enough in every moment to keep believing in one more ball. This became evident when his rival started to put a number on the score board, one at a time. However, the champion, being a fighter, had able to alter the game play. It was clear that Eragan’s forehand had become more painful than before. His backhand was not more painful than before. Serve’s the same.

Eragan entered this year’s PALAKASAN-tennis tournament with a title, being last year’s champion. He attributes his surge to a variety of factors, including a vastly improved serve, better fitness and, mostly a seemingly endless reservoir of self-belief.

At the end of the set, Eragan had defended his throne over Amozona, 8-5 in the scoreboard giving him his 2nd championship trophy in two years.