Eight teams to bring color to Powerade Team Tennis

Eight teams totting thirst-quenching flavors will kick off the 2005 Powerade Team Tennis Tournament this Friday at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

Fruit Punch would be headed by team leader Bert Ventura and the good dentist at the Commonwealth Health Center would have at his disposal the tennis talents of top men’s and women’s players Daniel Son, Elmer Guzman, George Poquiz, Kazumi Imai, and Nelia Luna. Also in the team are Jonathan Frasco, Matt Buenabajo, Roy Banados, Alvin Francisco, and Sadako Arriola.

Alex Martin and his Gold Rush team are aiming no less than the top spot with his collection of topnotch players like Todd Montgomery, Dino Jones, Abet Encarnacion, Hector Benitez, and Letty Jones. Giving the team added firepower are Reo Arriola, Dennis Macatangay, Jack Evans, Rose Pedersen, and Thea Minor.

Jagged Ice team leader Jorge Olanda, meanwhile, would be pinning his team’s hopes on the returning Sibley Santos, quicksilver Buddy Garote, lanky Art Lopez, versatile Cleofe Santos, and the youthful exuberance of Vivien Lee. Also part of the team are Eric Mahinay, Martin Igitol, Mario Buensuceso, Phil Kalen, and Vangie Espanola.

Headlining the Mango team of skipper Ed Johnson are youth standouts Ralph Buenaventura and Mayuko Arriola and cagey veterans Nanding Cajigan, Chuck Sayon, Didith Julve, and Young Son. Also expected to help a lot are Noel Dognidon, John Jenkins, Ricky Castro, and Lenny Panteleon.

Mountain Blast and Boyet Minor would be depending on the still developing on-court skills of tennis prodigy Ji Hoon Heo, who would be supported by Lito Cabrera, Romy “Colonel” Sotto, Tony Santos, and University of Hawaii-Manoa’s Amanda Weindl. Also expected to tilt the balance are the likes of Nigel Cacdac, Gary Ramsey, Boy Cruz, Shinobu Furr, and Ayumi Cajigan.

Peter Loyola’s Lemon Lime team has a good balance of veteran and up-and-coming players and its fate would be determined on how well and quickly they mesh together. The team is populated by players Dodong Espanola, Dong Lacbayo, Perry Cacdac, Alfredo Quiroz, Ruben Leynes, Russell Buenaventura, Marlon Estigoy, Joy Minor, Maru Dela Torre, and Ligaya Paculanang.

The name of Richard Asuncion’s Strawberry-Mellon team may have an unassuming ring to it but a quick look at its lineup suggests otherwise. Leading Strawberry-Mellon’s campaign are Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Tim Quan, Gerald Narciso, Manny Po, and the two Sallys—Sally Cacdac and Sally Wong. Completing the team are Ganover Rettin, Sam Apostol, Hiob Ngirachemoi, and Rowell Diaz.

Green Squale would be led by team leader Eli Buenaventura and would have players Nicolas Son, Bong Gamab, Toshi Beltau, Yuko Kobayashi, and Audrey Motto leading the charge. It is also made up of Roger De Villa, MacDuffy Llaban, Arvin Bacani, Orly De Leon, and Mia Jones.

The 2005 Powerade Team Tennis Tournament is sponsored by Coca-Cola Beverage Co., (Micronesia), Inc., which is the exclusive distributor of the energy drink, and organized by the Fil-American Tennis Association.

FILATA secretary Joy Minor said the schedule of matches would be posted starting last night at the AMP tennis court clubhouse and All-Star Sporting Goods at the Joeten Hafadai Shopping Center in Garapan.

For more information on the 2005 Powerade Team Tennis Tournament, contact Minor at 323-3081.