Heo, Mailman win open titles

The spotlight in the inaugural Aon Insurance Tennis Tournament was shared by a couple of junior netters, as 14-year-olds Ji Hoon Heo and Lila Mailman topped the men’s and women’s open singles Tuesday night at the American Memorial Park.

Heo won his second men’s open singles title over veteran Peter Loyola, using his speed, impressive court coverage, and shot placing to win the crown in straight sets.

The Calvary Christian Academy student was strong in the first set and controlled the start of the bout, breaking Loyola twice in the first four games. Loyola had his moments, working the young gun from one end to another before connecting on winners. Heo, however, was a bit too much for the veteran and took the opener, 6-3.

Despite using another player’s racquet—he broke the strings of his during warm-ups—Loyola was able to make a strong push in the second set. He improved his play, but Heo, who might play as a doubles contender in the 6th Micronesian Games, was able to secure the title with a 6-4 victory.

Meanwhile, the women’s open finals featured a battle of close friends who are both in the Micronesian Games team.

Mailman had a tough task playing against Vivian Lee. The two traded the first 10 games of the first set, which featured countless long rallies, and were tied at 5-5 when Lee grabbed the advantage.

Lee hit one winner in the 11th game and Mailman hit a shot to the net, another long, and double faulted to give Lee a 6-5 lead. Lee then controlled the final game of the set for the 7-5 win.

The advantage was slim, though, as both players were well matched. In the second set, it was Mailman that got all the breaks and was able to pull even with a 6-4 win.

Neither player was able to get a big lead in the third set as the tough battle continued, and it was Mailman that was able to close strong for the title with a 6-4 clincher.

Also grabbing a share of the spotlight were Simon Gregorio, Aldrin Santa Ana, and Merle Hudkins.

Gregorio claimed the title in the men’s 4.0 competition after beating Art Borromeo in straight sets 6-2, 6-4, while Santa Ana won the men’s 2.0 with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Zachary Joab.

For her part, Hudkins had her way against Rose Pederson in the women’s 4.0 and easily took the first set, 6-1. She received stiffer competition in the second set, but was still able to come through for the 6-4 victory.

Other singles results include Dr. Gary Ramsey and Renato “Dodong” Espanola making the finals in their categories.

Ramsey survived his men’s 3.0 semifinals challenge against Mario Buensuceso with a 7-5, 6-2 victory, while Espanola had a tough battle against Boyet Minor in the men’s 4.5 semis. After cruising through the first set, 6-1, Espanola was taken to the limit and beaten in the second set, 5-7. He then came back strong in the third for a 6-2 clincher.

The singles competition will soon conclude and will be followed by doubles competition.

Doubles will feature play in men’s, women’s, and mixed open, men’s, women’s, and mixed 4.0, and men’s, women’s, and mixed 3.0.

For more information about the inaugural Aon Insurance Tennis Tournament, call Roy Pangelinan at 287-7697, Nelia Luna at 287-0859, Ricky Castro at 234-5091, Richard Asuncion at 287-0856, Edwin Maratas at 287-0870, Babu Malayil at 287-4472, Peter Loyola at 285-3135, Lenny Pantaleon at 285-9500, or email saipan_tennis@yahoo.com.