STA tweaks scoring system

In a move aimed at limiting matches that go on long before the clock strikes midnight at the American Memorial Park tennis courts, the Saipan Tennis Association would be adopting a new scoring system for next month’s 3rd Annual Verizon Tennis Cup.

According to the club’s vice president-internal Nelia Luna, STA would be using the tiebreak system for matches that need a third set to be decided prior to the semifinals and the finals.

She said the rationale for the decision to adopt tiebreak scoring is to cut down on the duration of matches, which in the past contributed to STA going beyond the 10pm curfew set by AMP management.

Luna also said that with the onset of the rainy season, the abbreviated scoring would allow STA to finish matches earlier than before as well as reschedule them easier because of the more open schedule.

The third year of the Verizon tennis tournament kicks off on Aug. 3 with men’s and women’s doubles. Singles and mixed doubles will then make their debut on the second week right after singles play wraps up on Aug. 10.

Men’s doubles will have five divisions—open, 4.5, 4.0, 3.0, and 2.0, while women’s play would be confined to open, 4.0, and 3.0 divisions only.

Up for grabs in the singles portion of the tournament are men’s and women’s open, men’s and women’s 4.0, men’s and women’s 3.0, and men’s 4.5. Three divisions will be available in mixed doubles: Open, 4.0, and 3.0.

The first matches of the day would start at 6pm on weekdays and a little earlier on the weekends.

Aside from Verizon Micronesia, PSG Professional Corp. has also agreed to come on board as a minor sponsor of the netfest.

Entry fee for the tournament is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Would-be participants who are not members of STA can avail of one-year membership by paying $10.

Entry forms are available at the AMP clubhouse bulletin board and at the All-Star Sporting Goods located at the Hafadai Shopping Center in Garapan.

Deadline for submission of accomplished entry forms and entry fee is July 22 for participants of the men’s and women’s doubles, while those thinking of playing in the singles and mixed doubles have until Aug. 5 to make up their minds.

Tournament draw is July 23 for men’s and women’s doubles, while the schedule of matches for singles and mixed doubles would be made available on Aug. 6.

The awards ceremony and end-of-tournament banquet would be held on the last day of the two-week 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, 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.