Panthers tennis completes 12-0 season against Marauders

Now it’s official — Porterville’s boys’ tennis team finished off rivals Monache for the second time to cap a perfect 12-0 season with a 7-2 victory, Wednesday.

The Panthers did so by knocking Monache’s No. 1 singles player Goldie Rayani out of the ranks of the unbeaten.

Porterville’s No. 1 Jeremy Eggman edged Rayani, 7-5, 6-4, to hand the EYL’s top singles player his first loss in 2009. 

The Marauders answered back by taking wins from the No. 2 and No. 3 spots. Monache’s Alex Phaphol beat CJ Cobarruvias, 6-4, 6-2, and Drexler Alcantara eclipsed Porterville’s Andrew Chung, 6-3, 7-5.

The Panthers, however, swept the rest of the day’s matchups.

Porterville No. 4 Raul Mejia defeated Brandon Newcomb, 6-1, 7-6.

Luis Suarez dismantled Adrian Ogma, 6-4, 6-0 in the fith spot and Charlie Carrillo beat AJ Rodriguez, 6-3, 6-3 in a pivotal matchup at the time of the meet.

The Panthers showed off their teamwork abilities by sweeping the doubles as well.

Eggman teamed up with Adrian Vidrio to hand Rayani’s second loss of the day — a classic 6-3, 3-6, 12-10 super breaker battle.

Chung and Cobarruvias atoned for their singles losses by taking out Phaphol and Alcantara, 6-3, 4-6, 10-8 in another nail-biter.

Roger Moreno and Suarez had little trouble with Monache’s Mark Acoba and Mark Baen while brothers Vicente and Lupe Felix took out Awais Khalid and Jimmy Phraphilomlasuca, 6-1, 6-0.

EYL individuals will begin Friday at Tulare Western High School.