Two more singles champions crowned, doubles get going

Buddy Garote completed back-to-back games Wednesday evening, but you don’t see him complaining as his hard work paid off in the form of a championship in the men’s 4.5 division of the inaugural Aon Insurance Tennis Tournament.

Garote first battled Lope Padilla in the semifinals in the early part of evening and prevailed in three tough sets, 3-6, 5-7, 6-2.

After a brief break, the Star Water Co. employee was back again at the American Memorial Park tennis courts, this time contesting the championship against Commonwealth Health Center nurse Renato “Dodong” Espanola.

Battling fatigue, Garote had some trouble controlling Espanola’s forays in the opening set, but persevered and won 7-5. Using that momentum, he mustered all his remaining reserves and didn’t let Espanola force a third and deciding, winning the game by taking the second in a score of 6-3.

While two games in one night seemed to be a cinch for Garote, the same cannot be said for Jaime Hagos. After winning his semis bout against Babu Malayil in a marathon score of 6-7 (2-7), 6-0, 7-5, Hagos had little energy left in his title game against Dr. Gary Ramsey.

Ramsey took the initiative early and won the opener, 7-5. Hagos returned the favor in the next set, 6-2, but there was no denying the CHC doctor in the third and final set as he wrapped up the game and the championship with a 6-2 victory.

Doubles competition also got going Wednesday evening and it saw action in the men’s 2.0 and 3.0.

Winning their first round assignments in the men’s 2.0 were Thomas and Joel Joab, who beat Oscar Dimatulac and Louie Cagampang, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2; and Christian and Bryan Baron, who won by walkover against Sunny Shakir and Alex Katta.

Men’s 3.0 then saw the pair of Ruben Leynes and Ricky Castro prevail over Roy Banados and John Jenkins, 6-2, 6-1; and the Joab brothers again victorious this time against Bobby Nato and Das Narayanan, 7-5, 6-4.

For more information about the inaugural Aon Insurance Tennis Tournament, call Roy Pangelinan at 287-7697, Nelia Luna at 287-0859, Ricky Castro at 234-5091, Richard Asuncion at 287-0856, Edwin Maratas at 287-0870, Babu Malayil at 287-4472, Peter Loyola at 285-3135, Lenny Pantaleon at 285-9500, or email saipan_tennis@yahoo.com.