Simbulan shines despite late start in tennis

Edwin Simbulan’s win in the men’s 40 singles in last month’s 12th TanHoldings Tennis Classic was just another step on the 48-year-old’s continuing love affair with tennis.

In his first match, the civil engineer had to scrap and claw his way after going down early and often against Marlon Bercilla.

Bercilla took the first set 3-0, but Simbulan rallied to tie the score at 3-3. After missing crucial moments in the contest, Simbulan ultimately lost the set 6-3.

The second set was tense and full of back and forth, which gave Bercilla severe cramps during the set-deciding tie break. Bercilla ultimately retired from the match, 3-6, 7-6 (2), to hand the win to Simbulan.

Simbulan went on to sweep the three-player division with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Jacky Chen, which was pretty much clinical and straightforward.

Aside from triumphing in the 12th TanHoldings Tennis Classic, Simbulan also was a finalist in the same tourney’s men’s 3.0 in 2016 and men’s 40 in 2017.

Known as “Rafa” by most junior and adult players, Simbulan is a regular recreational player on the island and is regarded as a charismatic individual on the court.

He started learning tennis in 2012 after watching the legendary Rafael Nadal of Spain compete in the Australian Open finals.

Simbulan, who has lived on Saipan since 2006, said his start in tennis was pretty much because of happenstance.

“I got tired or bored just running along Beach Road and decided to pick up a racket in 2012 only to find out later that we are using short or junior rackets. I then started practicing with my wife.”

After a while, Simbulan became a regular at the public courts at the American Memorial Park and the rest, as they say, is history.

“Helped by our tennis community mostly Filipinos, I practiced essentially with everyone, adults and juniors alike. I played with our national team players in their earlier years and even got a chance to hit or practice with Carol Lee and Colin Ramsey,” he said.