Boys’ Tennis Preview: Burbank, Burroughs trying to make up for lost time

With a wetter than usual winter, the boys’ tennis teams at Burbank and Burroughs highs have lost valuable time leading up to the season.

The wet weather has severely impacted the teams’ time on the court and hampered the Bulldogs and Indians when it comes to putting together their lineups.

“We haven’t even been able to practice that much at all, really,” Burbank Coach Loi Phan said. “It has been brutal. We have been practicing one or two times a week compared to the normal five.

“It’s tough because you want to look at some of the new guys and see where they can fit in, but the rain has kept us from doing that.”

Said Burroughs Coach Roy Bernhardt: “It’s been really bad for us. When the courts are wet you just can’t go out there and play until they dry off. We have lost a lot of time because of the rain.

“Sometimes we try and keep in shape by running around the school, but we really need the playing time because we have a lot of young guys this year.”

With Pacific League play set to begin Feb. 28, here is a closer look at the teams.

BURBANK

The Bulldogs are coming off a season in which they went 7-7 and finished third in the Pacific League behind champion Arcadia and runner-up Crescenta Valley. Burbank fell in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs to Pasadena Poly, 17-1.

Phan said he thinks the league title should stay in the hands of the Apaches again this season.

“There is Arcadia and everybody else,” Phan said. “All the guys were ninth and 10th graders last year and they won league, so I’m guessing all those guys are going to be coming back. Just forget it; they are the best team by far and everybody else is playing for second, third and fourth. We just don’t have enough to beat them, simple as that.

“But I think the second through fourth spots, and even fifth, are going to be anybody’s game. I don’t think any of the other teams are going to be able to dominate. We just have to be ready in all of our games.”

Burbank lost its best player, Kevin Orellana, to graduation. Last season, Orelolana advanced to the league tournament semifinals in singles.

The Bulldogs have a key returner back in junior singles player Luciano Dupeutto. Also returning to play singles is sophomore James Lee.

“We have a few more guys battling out for singles spots and if they don’t make it they’ll be playing doubles,” Phan said. “A lot of our guys are up from the [junior varsity] last year.

“I think we only have about two seniors, so we’re going to be young.”

Playing doubles for the Bulldogs will be seniors Alejandro Ramos and Emory Kim.

BURROUGHS

The Indians went 6-9 a year ago and placed fourth in the Pacific League. Burroughs lost in a Division II wild-card to Atascadero, 11-7.

“A lot of our guys this season are up from the JV team,” Bernhardt said. “We have a lot of spots open and the guys and going to be trying for those spots.

“We were hoping to have a good idea of where we stand at this point, but we’ve had so much rain that it has really set us back a lot ... but the guys are working hard and hopefully they will be ready for league.”

Like Phan, Bernhardt thinks Arcadia will be the powerhouse of the league once again.

“They just have so much talent that they are always good,” Bernhardt said. “They just have so much depth and they seem to get a lot of players out for their program. I don’t think anybody is going to be able to touch them in league.”

The Indians have one of their most successful players from a year ago returning in junior Kendric Marcy, who will play singles.

“He is going to be our best player,” Bernhardt said.

Also playing singles for Burroughs will be sophomore Rafael Mungia and freshman Sebastian Munga. Anchoring the doubles corps will be junior Kiet Hoang.

“We have had some surprises with our guys so far, so hopefully they will be able to continue to improve,” Bernhardt said.