2009 CNN Hero of the Year Efren Penaflorida carries the Samsung YOG torch along the Robinsons Road in Singapore prior to the opening of the Youth Olympic Games.

The Philippines started on the wrong foot as netter Jeson Patrombon and taekwondo jin Kirk Barbosa absorbed heartbreaking defeats in the opening of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore Sunday.

Barbosa, the country’s youngest entry at 15 years old, lost to a taller Gili Haimovitz of Israel in the –48kg division, 8-7.

Patrombon, in contrast, failed cash in on his first set win and fell to China’s No. 1 Boen Ouyang, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, in the singles division at the rain-drenched Kallang Tennis Center.

The Filipino ace, currently ranked inside the world’s Top 50, looked headed to posting a win that would have inspired the lean but mean nine-man RP delegation after he snared the first set.

But he crumbled in the face of the Chinese’ strong plays.

In the third set, he fell behind 1-5 but roared back to take the next three games only to fall short as Ouyang re-asserted his might.

The smaller but big-hearted Barbosa had to claw back from a 4-8 deficit after two rounds after getting kicked in the head twice, which were good for three points apiece, with a ferocious third round onslaught.

The 15-year-old wildcard entry scored three points in that furious fightback but time just wasn’t on his side as he absorbed the heartbreaking loss that dashed the country’s hopes of snaring at least a bronze medal if Barbosa had only won.

Tanker Jessie Lacuna pulled out of the 400-meter freestyle event Sunday after deciding to just concentrate in his favorite event – 200m free – where he has a chance to gatecrash into the finals Monday.

Jasmine Al-Khaldi, the other Filipino entry in the star-studded pool competition at the Singapore Sports School’s state-of-the-art aquatic center, will also debut Monday in her pet event, the 100m free.

Fil-Am Bobby Ray Parks, Jr., Jeron Teng, Cris Michael Tolomia and Michael Pate launch their big in basketball’s 3-on-3 against the US Virgin Island, the same country where the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan was borne.

The Filipinos, who drew a first day bye, will have their hands full though as US Virgin Islands is riding the crest of a lopsided 28-12 win over South Africa Sunday.

The cagers will then battle it out with powerhouse Spain on Tuesday, title contender Croatia on Wednesday before closing out their elimination round schedule with a duel with South Africa on Thursday.