Doubles play gets going in Aon tennis

Ten of 11 matches scheduled in the doubles and mixed doubles competition of the inaugural Aon Insurance Tennis Tournament were concluded Friday at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

Action in the lone men’s 4.5 was at its competitive best with the match between the doubles pairs of Gannover Rettin and John Johnson and Richard Asuncion and Alex Martin taking the long route with the latter winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

In the men’s 4.0, the partnership of good friends Didith Julve and Buboy Sergio paid dividends, as they advanced following a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Manny Po and George Poquiz.

Ronnie Lacbayo and Mel Pila joined Julve and Sergio in the next round after they defeated Edwin Maratas and Ruben Leynes in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

A variety of endings, meanwhile, were recorded in the men’s 3.0 with Art Lopez and Mario Buensuceso defeating Jaime Hagos and Jojie Montenejo in three hard-fought sets, 2-6, 6-0, 6-2; Rodel Macasinag and Romy Espeleta getting the better of Sunny Shakir and Alex Katta, 6-2, 6-3; Francis Mangsat and Orly De Leon winning via default against Boy Cruz and Alvin Francisco; and Ricky Castro and Leynes ahead their bout against Thomas and Joel Joab, 6-1, 2-1, when the match was suspended because of rain.

Mixed 4.0 doubles saw Abet Encarnacion and Merli Hudkins prevail 6-4, 6-4 against Jorge Olanda and Karen Ramsey, Feel Kalen and Letty Jones outlast Sam Apostol and Lucita Pasana, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, and Hector Benitez and Cleofe Santos turn back Tony Santos and Nelia Luna, 6-2, 6-3.

The lone mixed 3.0 game Friday had Kalen and Thesel Minor advancing via default against John Jenkins and his partner.

Like Friday, 10 matches were also finished on Thursday, majority of which were in the men’s 4.0.

It saw Benitez teaming up with Renato “Dodong” Espanola to beat Olanda and Abet Encarnacion, 6-4, 7-6 (6-2); Lacbayo and Santos defeating Boyet Minor and Father Ryan Jimenez, 7-5, 6-2; Po and Poquiz getting the better of Jang Dong-In and Ricky Castro, 6-4, 6-2; Julve and Sergio outplaying Dr. Gary Ramsey and Dr. Richard Brostrom, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, Thomas Joab and Babu Malayil surviving Yao Ming and Romy Sotto, 6-4, 1-6, 6-1; and Edwin Maratas and Leynes deposing Kalen and Dino Jones, 6-3, 7-5 in the men’s 4.0.

In the men’s 3.0, Hagos and Montenejo subdued Sam Apostol and Edwin Quismundo, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, and Henry Poon and Jang Dong-In took out Zachary Joab and Tom Guerrerom 6-4, 6-2.

Vener Urena and Romy Pandoro were also successful against James Camacho and Zachary Joab, 6-4, 6-2, in men’s 2.0, while Joel Joab and Cecil Obaldo got past Ramon Angeles and Leriza Debrum, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7) in the mixed doubles 3.0.

For more information about the inaugural Saipan Tennis Association-organized 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.