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Unaware of his teammates’ results Tuesday afternoon at East Falls’ Legacy Youth Tennis and Education Center, Rocky Keophondeth capitalized on his second match point by pounding a forehand that his adversary meekly returned into the net.
The blistering groundstroke and many others from the 15-year-old drew applause but could not overcome solid efforts from his peers’ opponents, as representatives from Barry Playground, 18th and Johnston streets, dropped the National Junior Tennis & Learning Intermediate championships to Germantown Friends School, 5-2. Despite their loss, the eight youngsters developed unmatched camaraderie in their seven-week summer journey and will use their run to ensure that future foes flounder.
“Nobody likes falling short but I know we’ll be stronger next year,” Keophondeth, a sophomore-to-be at Girard Academic Music Program, 2136 Ritner St., said. “I’m happy my first year of NTJL has given me so many memories.”
The resident of 19th and Mifflin streets has wielded a racket for 10 years but evolved greatly beginning June 25, with coaches Bryan Hughes and Connor Humphries of the South Philadelphia Tennis Association overseeing their swings. He and his friends number themselves among the 4,500 children whom Legacy — formerly the Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education Center, — assists annually through after-school, community and summer opportunities, so they wanted to give their benefactors displays of their deftness.
“Many of our players lack significant experience, but everyone makes up for that with a great work ethic and support for one another,” Hughes, of the 1100 block of South Eighth Street, said before reminding his charges to have fun while executing their shots.
The Passyunk Square resident began the battle at a disadvantage, as he could not field enough players for the four-singles, three-doubles match format. The shortage caused the local bunch to forfeit a doubles duel, leaving the athletes needing to claim four victories from six contests. Their North Region counterparts seemed calmer knowing they had gained a victory without striking a ball and looked eager to pounce as the first four affairs commenced.
The South Philadelphians sealed their appearance in the final Aug. 2, claiming triumphs over Cobbs Creek and Markward at Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park, Broad Street and Pattison Avenue. They quickly learned their blemish-free slate meant little to their challengers, however. With second-singles designee Keophondeth and first-singles selection Andrew “McLovin” Golembeski waiting in the wings, the pressure seemed too intense for Preston Ngo. The third-singles choice struggled to outmaneuver his combatant and succumbed 6-1.
His younger brother Pierson and partner Calvin Washington had difficulty claiming points and fell 6-0 in second doubles. Forced to conquer the remaining sets, the area bashers gained a jolt from the first doubles pairing of Kevin Hoxha and Patrick Phang, whose consistent strokes earned a 6-2 decision.
“There’s a little momentum,” Hughes said as the duo smiled and decided to watch fourth-singles option John Ho in what easily classified as the day’s best encounter.
Ho, also a 15-year-old soon-to-be sophomore at GAMP, made the most of his four years of play by trading well-placed shots with a crafty left-handed antagonist. Their wizardry had both camps marveling, and the youngsters needed a tiebreaker to determine the victor. Ho fought valiantly but lost 12-10 in the decider to fall 7-6.
“I should have won,” the resident of 18th and McKean streets said, “but I’m proud nonetheless.”
<strong> As Ho fine-tuned </strong> his finesse, Golembeski, whose nickname derives from what his colleagues feel is his resemblance to a memorable character in the 2007 film “Superbad,” dealt with his own pesky rival. The 17-year-old, an impending senior at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, 901 S. Broad St., deems his baseline play his most reliable asset, with smooth strokes looking to set him up for put-aways at the net.
Extended rallies between the resident of Front and Christian streets and his foe showed off the former’s gift for angled shots, but he often found himself retreating too much. They produced what one might call a lopsided 6-2 result, although Golembeski, a seven-year NTJL veteran, felt fortunate to contest a championship match.
“I made a couple poor decisions, but I’ll continue to work on all aspects of my game,” he said.
Golembeski and Ho fell within seconds of each other, cementing the title for Germantown Friends. It looked as if the doubles victory would be the Marconi-based group’s lone great news, as Keophondeth trailed 4-1.
“When I went down, I just said to play with more heart,” he said.
His self-dialogue worked, as he claimed the final five games to make the outcome more respectable.
Their ultimate goal thwarted, the youngsters pondered their summer time together, which will end with today’s celebration ceremony at the center, and thanked Hughes and Fishtown’s Humphries for their tutelage.
“They played well,” Hughes said, “and the sportsmanship was great. If we had a little more experience, things might have been different.”
Their separation will be brief, as the players will comprise a fall travel team through the United States Tennis Association, a significant step in their maturation.
“We had a great group this summer,” Hughes, who also instructed beginners at Barry, said. “The fun’s just beginning, though.”
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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