Doubles near conclusion, singles play begins

Doubles play in the ongoing 3rd Annual Verizon Tennis Cup is nearing its completion as two more teams were crowned champions, while singles play got underway Wednesday night at the American Memorial par tennis courts.

Spearheading the newly crowned champions were Lito Cabrera and Nicolas Son, who took home top honors in the men’s doubles open, capping their campaign with a straight sets victory over Richard Asuncion and Boyet Minor.

Cabrera and Son continued carried their consistent play into their final match and behind good communication and well placed shots, managed to yank a 6-4, 6-2 victory, securing the coveted crown of the round-robin competition.

Taking runner-up honors were Roy Pangelinan and Peter Loyola, who defeated Asuncion and Minor earlier in the tournament, but lost to Son and Cabrera.

Not all was lost for Minor, who along with Feel Kalen, grabbed a share of the spotlight. The two joined forces in the 4.0 category and turned back a respectable push by Keith Gabaldon and Abet Encarnacion, squeezing through with a tough 7-6 win in the first set and clinching the title with a 6-4 win in the second.

Gabaldon and Encarnacion were coming off a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Jeorge Olanda and Edwin Maratas in the semifinals earlier in the evening.

Meanwhile, Dr. Alberto Ventura and Yesman Gurung advanced to the finals of the 3.5 after surviving a three-setter against Jack Evans and Edgar Casing.

Ventura and Gurung had their hands full as they had to come back after dropping a tough first set, 5-7.

The tightly fought bout carried over to the second set, which could’ve gone either way, however, it was Ventura and Gurung who had their prayers answered as they forced a third set with a 7-6 (9-6) win. Back on a level playing field, the two began to chip away and closed the match, 6-3.

Ventura and Gurung were scheduled to face the doctor-doctor duo of Gary Ramsey and Richard Brostrom for the title last night.

In women’s action, Lenny Panteleon and Vangie Espanola caught a break and defeated Ayumi Cajigan and Thea Minor in the 3.0 category.

Cajigan and Minor won the first set 7-5, and were down 2-4 in the second set when Cajigan retired due to cramps.

In singles play, Ed Paniegra had a tough first set but managed to advance with a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Ramon Angelles in the 3.0 card, while Rodel Macasinag stopped John Jenkins 6-4, 6-2.

Ramsey also survived a tough bout against Henry Pun 6-1, 0-6, 7-6 (8-6).

The event is expected to conclude with an award ceremony and end-of-tournament banquet, which 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, vice president-internal Nelia 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.