Toyota tennis champions crowned

After all the forehand shots, the squeaky noises from tennis shoes moving left and right, and the on-court celebrations and disappointments, participants in the 2nd Annual Toyota Tennis Tournament joined organizers and head sponsor representative Abner Venus in a tournament-ending awards banquet Saturday night at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

“First of all I would like to thank those who made this possible, the organizers and of course, the participants,” Venus said during the ceremony. “Without you guys, this 2nd Annual Toyota Tournament won’t be possible.”

Leading the shiny hardware recipients was veteran Peter Loyola, who scooped up three championship trophies during the three-week competition.

Loyola first teamed up with rising star Ji Hoon Heo to take the men’s open doubles, then joined forces with Cleofe Santos to bag the coveted prize in the mixed doubles open.

He then capped his impressive run by beating Heo in a thrilling final of the men’s open singles Friday night.

“Before I play tennis, I text all my Christian friends to please pray for me,” Loyola said with a smile. “The Lord bless me, I can still stay on the island and play tennis. It’s good to be here on the island…very simple living and good people. ”

Loyola explained that communication was key to his two doubles wins, citing that “it is not that you have a good singles player as a partner, it’s how you work well together.”

He admitted that he was already exhausted by the time he played his singles finals, however, he said it was his mental game that enabled him to be successful.

He also expressed appreciation to his church, Saipan Bible Fellowship One, for the support he received throughout the tournament.

The Jones family, comprising of Dino, Letty, Mia, and Dinalette also had their shining moments and combined to take home six awards.

Dinallette worked her magic well in the women’s singles 3.0 and strolled to the finals before beating Minako Watanabe.

Mia also captured a championship crown, taking reign in the women’s 2.0 while finishing runner-up in the women’s doubles 3.0 after teaming up with Vangie Espanola.

The mother and father of the family weren’t to be upstaged and also brought home shiny trophies, with Letty joining hands with Johnny Johnson to take the championship of the mixed doubles 4.0. Dino was also impressive in the same category, teaming with Delia Johnson for a runner-up finish.

Letty Jones also placed runner-up in the women’s doubles open with partner Young Son.

The Motto family also had a good run in the competition, combining to take home three championship crowns and a runner-up finish.

Joe Motto Jr. was solid throughout the men’s 2.0 singles, making his way to the finals where he beat Roy Ocanada 6-2, 6-4. He also linked up with with dad, Joe Motto Sr. for a runner-up performance in the men’s doubles 3.0. Joe Motto Sr. teammed with daughter Audrey to win the mixed doubles 3.0. For her part, Audrey Motto teamed up with Ligaya Paculanang to take home top honors in the women’s doubles 4.0.

Meanwhile, other champions crowned were men’s 4.5 champ Buddy Garote, 4.0 winner Jorge Olanda, Aramis Dailo in the 3.0, and women’s open champion Mayuko Arriola.

Keith Gabaldon and Heo also won the men’s doubles 4.5, Art Lopez and Romy “Colonel” Sotto in the men’s doubles 4.0, Budoy Mocotto and Joe- San Nicolas in the 3.0 Orly Deleon and Roy Ocanada in the 2.0, Kazumi Imai and Yuko Kobayashi in the women’s doubles open.