Doubles sweep carries Burroughs tennis over Burbank
BURBANK — For the first time in a number of years, the season finale boys’ tennis match between Burroughs High and Burbank carried with it no Pacific League championship or playoff implications.
“I think it’s been probably 10 years or more since we didn’t at least make the playoffs,” Indians Coach Roy Bernhardt said.
What was on the line in Thursday’s match was not much more than pride and city bragging rights.
Burroughs used a doubles sweep, winning all nine sets, to earn a 12-6 victory against the visiting Bulldogs. The win gave the Indians a season sweep of their rivals, having also rolled to a 12-6 victory April 1.
In missing out on the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs, the defending league champion Indians (4-8 in league) finish fifth in league, while the Bulldogs (2-10 in league) are sixth.
Arcadia swept through league to secure the championship.
Both teams suffered after key players either decided not to come out for the team or left during the season.
“We have a pretty decent group of singles player, even though we lost our best singles guy during the season,” Burbank Coach Loi Phan said. “We just don’t have the talent in doubles. I have tried so many different doubles combinations, but I just haven’t been able to find the right teams.”
Despite Burroughs’ fall from the top of the league, it has received a fine effort this season from No. 1 singles Sawyer Patterson. Patterson, who has yet to lose a set this season, swept his three sets against Burbank by 6-0 scores.
“I just went out this season and did the best that I could to win points for the team,” said Patterson, the defending league singles champion. “Last year’s team was just so packed with talent, we just don’t have that much talent this year. I just try and tell the guys to go out there and have fun.”
Patterson’s points were the only ones the Indians would get in singles, as it was the team’s doubles that carried the squad. While the No. 1 pair of Alex Park and Stephen Campbell won by 6-1 scores, the No. 2 duo of Peter Vu and An Hoang went, 6-3, 6-0, 7-5, and Chris Summa and Ethan Gamboa went, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4.
Burbank was able to get two wins each in singles from No. 1 Michael Kundibekian, 6-0, 6-0, No. 2 Harout Apayan, 6-2, 6-2, and Josh Macapagac, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.
“It’s kind of strange not even going to the playoffs, but I guess that’s how it goes,” Bernhardt said.
Players from both teams will take part in the Pacific League prelims at 1 p.m. Monday at Pasadena High.
jeff.tully@latimes.com
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