TAIPEI—Cue artists gave Team Philippines a much-needed boost in the 29th Summer Universiade.
John Rodlin Bautista bucked tremendous pressure to bring down M. Soronzonbold of Mongolia, 11-10, in their round-of-16 men’s 9-ball singles’ match at the Taipei Expo Dome.
The 22-year-old campaigner from Trinity University of Asia kept his composure to edge Soronzonbold and advance to a quarterfinal showdown against Eirik Riisnaes of Norway.
Riisnaes whipped Takayuki Shishido of Japan, 11-4, in another round-of-16 encounter.
The Bautista-Riisnaes quarterfinal duel is scheduled at 11 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 26).
“Good luck to John. I hope he’ll continue to perform well ang bring honor to the country,” said Federation of School Sports Association of the Philippines president David Ong.
The Filipinos’ campaign in Taipei is supported by San Miguel Corp., Bestank and Garfield Sportswear.
Another Filipino entry, James Lim of Far Eastern University, was not as lucky.
Lim dropped a close 9-11 decision to Baasandorj Odsuren of Mongolia earlier Friday.
Tennis also produced some bright moments with Wilmer Sabas putting up a strong challenge before losing to Sunil Kumar of India, two sets to one in their men’s singles encounter.
Sabas, the 20-year-old campaigner from Arellano University was at his best in the second set, where he defeated Kumar, 6-1.
Justin Villaluz of Mapta fell to Matthew Alexander of New Zealand in straight sets.
Over at the Taipei Stadium, the 15-man athletics’ team faltered in the face of world-class opposition.
Felyn Dolloso of La Salle-Dasmarinas failed to qualify in the women’s triple jump with her 12.25.
The 24-year-old campaigner finished 11th in the qualifying heat topped by Neele Eckhardt of Germany in 13.52.
In the women’s 200m, Jeremiah Angela Malonzo of the University of the Philippines and Karen Janario of the University of Santo Tomas were both eliminated in the qualifying heats.
Malonzo finished sixth in Heat 5/6 with 26.11, while Janario wound up sixth in Heat 6/6 with 27.37.
Table tennis and swimming also did not get the desired results.
Losing their men’s singles matches were Mapta student Aaron Paul Chicano, who fell to Chuluudai Ganbat of Mongolia; University of Cebu bet Roblyn Kyle Veloso, who lost to Gints Eihmans of Latvia; and UC mainstay Fausto Zeus Comaingking, who succumed to Hermann Muelbach of Germany.