Tan defends title in Loyola yearend netfest

Lydia Tan secured back-to-back titles after topping the women’s 4.0 singles division in the 2008 Loyola Sports Yearend Tennis Tournament held over the weekend at the Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan tennis courts.

Tan, who won last year’s finals after downing Karen Ramsey, 8-1, prevailed over Yuri Hatamata in Sunday’s title game, 8-3.

Hatamata won in last year’s yearend tournament competing in Class B and defeating Sarah Yap in the finals, 8-4. Hatamata moved up to a higher level of competition and made it to the finals after outclassing returning junior player Melody Johnson in the semis, 8-1.

Tan earned a return trip to the finals after whipping Sakiko Eda in the other semis pairing.

Eda and Johnson battled for third place with the former prevailing, 8-5.

Other top placers in the adults’ singles were Pastor Jang Dong Ik, Jake Lee, and Ling Lihua.

Jang claimed the men’s 4.0 singles crown after downing Ken Imaya in the finals, 8-6. Jang secured the first finals ticket after thwarting Hector Benitez in the semifinals, 8-6.

Imaya was paired with Gabrielle Colombo in the semifinals and the former won, 8-3.

Colombo settled for third place after defeating Benitez, 8-3.

In the men’s 3.0 division, Lee, who is a junior player, topped a much older foe in Vener Urena, pulling off an 8-5 victory in the finals.

Lee first beat Joel Jang in the quarterfinals, 8-4, and moved into the semifinals after thumping Edward Armia, 8-3.

Urena won over Chris Park in the quarterfinals, 8-4, and topped Darnel Dela Cruz in the semifinals, 8-4, before bowing to Lee in the finals.

Armia took the third place trophy after overpowering Dela Cruz in the consolation match, 8-2.

Lua easily took the women’s 3.0 singles tiara after crushing Maru Villanueva in the finals, 8-1. Lua advanced to the title match after an 8-3 win over Vickie Isuka, who lost her finals bid after cramping midway in the semis match.

Flor Jones took home the third place trophy after prevailing over Isuka, 8-5. Jones won over Mayling Colombo in the quarterfinals, 8-5, but lost to Villanueva in the semis, 8-6.

Fiesta Resort tennis instructor Peter Loyola’s yearned event also had doubles events featuring junior players.

Siblings Tiffani and Alfie Madlambayan ruled the Level 1 division after beating Kwangjae Kim and Ivan Chun in a closely fought finals, 7-5. The Madlambayan siblings won over Airi Hatamata and A.J. Hudkins in the semis, 6-2, to book a finals ticket. Kim and Chun gained the second finals seat after downing Sam Soledad and Seung Jae Kim in the other semis duel, 6-4.

Level 2 doubles also had siblings champions in Clayton and Kennedy Isuka, who topped Kevin Rhee and Julian Briosos in the finals, 8-5. Tomo Hatamata and Ja Briosos secured the third place trophy after outclassing Jason Gamboa and Joe Chun, 8-4.

Tammy Ackerman teamed up with Daniel Park in Level 3 doubles and the duo defeated Jack Sharer and Jeron Ano in the finals, 8-3.

In the battle for third, the partnership of Carl Dela Cruz and Emily Jones proved to be too much for the duo of Moris Villanueva and Aaron Lee, 8-4.