Son on top of DFS singles, doubles

Youth netter Nicolas Son had things go his way over the weekend after taking home two titles in the 24th Annual DFS Micronesian Tennis Championships at the Pacific Islands Club tennis courts.

Son and his father Michael had their work cut out for them in the round-robin men’s open doubles, with an opposing cast of top guns in the local tennis scene, but nonetheless, did what was needed to capture the coveted championship crown.

The duo defeated Jeff Race and Daniel Son, Michael’s eldest son, in a thrilling three-setter Saturday to secure the championship. After dropping a nail-biting first set, 6-7, Nicolas and Michael pulled the right strings in clutch moments to knot the match at a set apiece with a hard earned 7-5 win. The neck-and neck-battle carried over to the decisive set, but it was the Son tandem that mustered just enough juice to edge their opponents, 6-4.

Prior to the contest, the Son family defeated Peter Loyola and Rory MacKay in another thriller 4-6, 7-6, 6-3.

MacKay and Loyola bounced back and got past Race and Son to take runner-up rights 6-2, 6-3 yesterday afternoon.

Also finding success was the duo of Manny Po and Boyet Minor, who took home the men’s 4.0 crown with a hard fought 7-6 (9-7), 7-5 victory over Father Ryan Jimenez and Perry Cacdac.

The men’s 3.0 battle featuring Gary Ramsey and Richard Brostrom taking on John Jenkins and Francis Mangat was still ongoing as of press time.

Results of the women’s open and 3.0 doubles finals were also not available as of press time. Youth sensation Mayuko Arriola and Joy Minor were battling Kazumi Imai and Yuko Kobayashi in the final of the open, while Dinalette Jones and Ligaya Pacunalang were scheduled to take on Karen Ramsey and Lucita Pasana in the 3.0.

Loyola also teamed up with Sally Wong to top the mixed doubles competition, beating Race and Amanda Weindl 6-4, 1-6, 6-1.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Son was firing away in the boys’ 18-and-under singles play and won his second title of the tournament yesterday over fellow standout Ralph Buenaventura.

Things were flowing well for Buenaventura in the early stages as he quickly grabbed the upper hand with a 6-2 win in the first set. Son found a response to Buenaventura’s game and returned the favor, 6-3, before Buenaventura retired at the start of the third set.

Buenaventura was reportedly sick and began to cramp up at the start of the set.

Buenaventura’s younger brother Russell is also in the mix for the 14-and-under title and will battle Calvin Yang for the crown at a later date.

Russell beat Henry Yang 6-2, 6-0 in the quarterfinals, then got past Phillip Park 6-3, 6-1 to earn his golden ticket.

For his part, Calvin Yang posted a 6-4, 6-4 win over Bradley Brostrom in the quarterfinals and edged Dominic Von Siebenthal in the semis 6-4, 6-0 to set up the final tiff.

Joe Motto Jr. was crowned champion of the boys’ 10-and-under category after slipping past Raffy Jones 6-4. Motto Jr. had earlier beat Andrew Johnson 6-1 in the semis while Jones edged Angelo Jones 6-3.

In the girls’ corner, Lila Mailman captured her second singles title in as many months after defeating Vivian Lee in straight sets 6-4, 6-1 in the 14-and-under competition. Mailman had earlier beat Shane Jones 6-0, 6-1 while Lee got by Jessica Soll 6-0, 5-7, 6-3.

Thea Minor also had her share of the spotlight as she took home the girls’ 10-and-under with a 6-3 victory over Melody Johnson.

DFS tennis action continues this weekend with competition in the junior doubles and adult singles.

Deadline for registering is May 22. Entry cost is $15 per player in the singles and $10 per player in the doubles. The draw for the second weekend of play will be held on May 22 at 3pm at the PIC.

For more information, contact NMITA president and co-director Eli Buenaventura at 484-1558.