Taga Tennis tourney set for next month

The Saipan Tennis Association will hold its 2nd Annual Taga Tennis Tournament next month at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

Over 19 singles, doubles, and mixed doubles divisions will be at stake in the yearend tennis competition sponsored by Pacific Trading Co. and Miller Lite.

Doubles play will kick off the tournament on Dec. 1 and will last until Dec. 5. The second week of competition, Dec. 6 to Dec. 12, will then see singles and mixed doubles takeover.

The doubles division alone has nine subcategories namely men’s and women’s open, men’s and women’s 4.0, men’s and women’s 3.0, men’s 4.5, men’s 2.0, and men’s 40-and-over.

Singles will have seven subcategories namely men’s and women’s open, men’s and women’s 4.0, men’s and women’s 3.0, and men’s 2.0. Mixed doubles will feature play in the open, 4.0, and 3.0 levels.

Entry fee is set at $10 per event for members and $15 per event for nonmembers. Entry forms can be picked up at the AMP tennis courts bulletin board or at the Las Vegas Discount Golf & Tennis in Garapan.

Tournament draws will be posted at the AMP tennis courts bulletin board beginning Nov. 27.

In all, 62 trophies for both champions and runners-up will be handed out on Dec. 18 during the awards banquet of the 2nd Taga Tennis Tournament, which also will serve as STA’s Christmas and New Year’s Eve Party.

STA president Roy Pangelinan extended his thanks to PTC general manager Charles V. Cepeda for once again supporting the event.

“I would like to thank Charles for his continued support and commitment to the tennis community by sponsoring once again the Taga Tennis Tournament,” said Pangelinan.

The STA president went on to say that the upcoming tournament is aptly named Taga since Chief Taga is known in local folklore as the embodiment of strength and tenacity.

“And because of that, Taga Tennis was conceptualized by STA and Pacific Trading last year. This year we are proud to have PTC and Miller Lite sponsoring this competition,” said Pangelinan.

The 2nd Annual Taga Tennis Tournament wraps up STA’s calendar of activities for 2004. The tennis club hosted three tournaments this year beginning with the inaugural Toyota Tennis Classic in March and followed by the 2nd Verizon Tennis Cup last July and August.

Pangelinan said over 100 tennis enthusiasts are expected to sign up for the tournament.

For more information about the 2nd Annual Taga Tennis Tournament, please call Pangelinan at 256-7769, vice president-internal Nelia Luna at 288-5151 or 287-0859, vice president-external Ricky Castro at 234-7426, and officers Richard Asuncion at 287-0856, Babu Malayil at 286-9745, and Lope Padilla at 286-9733. Those interested can also email STA at Saipan_tennis@yahoo.com.