Kevin Cordon sets up for the serve against Cho Geonyeop during their men’s singles match Thursday in the Crowne Plaza Nothern Marianas Open at the Ada gym.
SOUTH Korea’s Cho Geonyeop defeated top seed Kevin Cordon of Guatemala in a thrilling three-game match Thursday in the Crowne Plaza Northern Marianas Open at the Ada gym.
Cordon and Cho gave the fans a good show as they played as equals during the first game of the match, each scoring three consecutive points.
But it Cho who delivered the final blow to win the first game, 23-21.
In game two, both players picked up the pace with Cho scoring five points straight while Cordon scored four consecutive points.
But Cordon maintained enough pressure to stay afloat and notch victory in game two.
In the deciding third and final game of the match, which was marked by a great deal of exchanges, the South Korean found his second wind to score six straight points and seize the lead.
Cordon fought back but was eventually overwhelmed, 10-21.
Cho now advances to the quarterfinals.
Also advancing as of 6 p.m. Thursday night were South Korea’s Jeon Hyeok Jin and Lee Yun Gyu, Chinese-Taipei’s Liao Jhuo-Fu, Su Li Yang, and Chi Yu Jen, and Japan’s Koo Takahashi.
