Bulldogs still on title trek

Jim Riggio

The Burbank High boys’ tennis team is on a mission to get back the

Foothill League title.

And if Tuesday’s match against cross-town rival Burroughs is any

indication, the Bulldogs are motivated to capture their 15th league

championship in 16 years.

Burbank defeated Burroughs, 13-5, at the Burbank Tennis Center to

get one step closer to taking the title back from defending champion

Valencia.

“It’s going to come down to Valencia,” Burbank Coach Paul McNiff

said.

Burbank (11-4, 7-0 in league) will visit Valencia Tuesday in what

should decide the league title. Valencia snapped Burbank’s 14-year

hold on the league crown last year.

The Bulldogs defeated the Vikings, 12-6, in the first meeting on

April 3, as Burbank won two of three sets on tie-breakers.

“That match is not only for the league title, but it’s also for

seedings in the league individual tournament,” McNiff said. “I think

the seniors really want it, especially those who lost to Valencia

last year.”

Burroughs (4-7, 2-5) gave Burbank a tough time in the first match

on March 25, as the teams were tied at 6 after two rounds before

Burbank won five of six in the final round to win, 11-7.

But the Indians, which have lost several close league matches,

could not improve on their first effort.

“I’m disappointed we haven’t done better,” Burroughs Coach Roy

Bernhardt said. “We should have beaten Burbank, Hart and Valencia the

first time.”

Although the Indians seem to be in a hole, they still have a shot

at finishing third in league.

In Tuesday’s match, Burbank’s No. 1 singles player Haig Kassabian

swept by 6-0 scores against Burroughs’ Andreas Lamelas, Scott Lam and

Phuong Lam. Kassabian, a junior, improved to 21-0 in league play.

No. 2 Hovsep Gasamanian went 6-0, 6-2, 6-0 and No. 3 David Chang,

struggled, losing all three sets, 5-7, 0-6, 2-6.

In doubles, Burbank’s No. 1 team of James Chang and Ara

Baghdasarian won 7-6 (7-1) against Burroughs’ top team of Nathan

Brandt and Wilson Tseng. Chang and Baghdasarian went 6-0 against

Burroughs’ No. 2 team of Raymond Bolanos and Ulises Espinoza and they

beat No. 3 Hai Do and Hamlet Karapetyan, 6-3.

Burbank’s No. 2 team of Chris Lee and Ted Kang went 0-6, 6-1, 6-2,

and the No. 3 team of Varuzhan Sarkisyan and Alex Dawoodian went 3-6,

6-1, 6-2.