120 entries and still counting

Even as the CNMI’s best hopes in tennis battle for honor and glory in the 2005 South Pacific Mini Games in Palau, local netters are also gearing up to improve their forehand, slices, and volleying skills as witnessed by the Saipan Tennis Association receiving more than 100 entries for the doubles competition of its upcoming 3rd Annual Verizon Tennis Cup.

Although, the local tennis club is still entertaining entries until today, STA vice president-internal Nelia Luna said they already have 120 entries for the men’s and women’s doubles competition set to start on Aug. 3 at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

For the men’s open, the tandems of Peter Loyola and Roy Pangelinan and Lito Cabrera and Nicolas Son have made their intention to duke it out for the championship.

Players to watch in the men’s 4.5, meanwhile, are Loyola and Hector Benitez, Pangelinan and Father Ryan Jimenez, Cabrera and Chuck Sayon, Elmer Guzman and Ronnie Lacbayo, and Jorge Olanda and Keith Gabaldon.

Holding fort in the very competitive men’s 4.0 are the likes of Toshi Beltau and Abet Encarnacion, Jimenez and Dodong Espanola, Richard Asuncion and Gerald Narciso, Olanda and Edwin Maratas, and the Tinian pair of Archie Montecillo and Budoy Mocorro.

Yesman Gurung and Hiob Ngerchemoi, for their part, headline the newly created men’s 3.5 division. They are expected to be crowded on the top by the partnerships of Ruben Leynes and Roy Banados, Alfredo Quiroz and Boy Cruz, Rommel Manalang and Ramon Angeles, and the darkhorse tandem of Brett Nelson and Randy Steele.

Opting to ply their trade in the men’s 3.0 are six pairs led by Abner Venus and Vener Urena, and the father-and-son team-ups of MacDuffy and Patrick Llaban, and Tatsurori and Ryuichi Gotonda.

In the women’s corner, lady netters that are entered in the open division are the duos of Letty Jones and Delia Johnson, Nelia Luna and Lucita Pasana, Sally Wong and Ligaya Paculanang, Vivien Lee and Audrey Motto, Joy Minor and Kazumi Imai, and Young Son and Mayuko Arriola.

Women’s 4.0 is a little less packed with the likes of Lee and Rose Pedersen, Luna and Vangie Espanola, Paculanang and Merle Hudkins, and Tinian’s Emily Cuan and Linda Decena battling for supremacy.

Five pairs would be playing in women’s 3.0, namely Ayumi Cajigan and Thea Minor, Agnes Salazar and Leriza Debrum, Tinian’s Decena and Sue Reyes, Sadako Arriola and Aki, and Lenny Panteleon and Espanola.

While doubles play kicks off next week, singles and mixed doubles will not start until Aug. 11. Players thinking of seeing action in the singles and mixed doubles have until Aug. 5 to make up their minds and sign up.

The award ceremony and end-of-tournament banquet would be held on the last day of the two-week and three-day long event on Aug. 20 at the AMP grounds.

For more information about the 3rd Annual Verizon Tennis Cup, contact STA president Roy Pangelinan at 287-7697, Luna at 288-5151 or 287-0859, vice president-external Ricky Castro at 484-2969, auditor Marlon Estigoy at 287-0895, and secretary Lenny Panteleon 285-9500.