Lee, Mailman top Aon women’s open doubles

Women’s open singles finalists Lila Mailman and Vivian Lee joined forces for the women’s open doubles and cruised through their challenges to take home the title in the inaugural Aon Insurance Tennis Tournament Tuesday night at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

Not even Mother Nature’s rain showers was able to cool off the two 14-year-olds, who faced veterans Letty Jones and Joy Minor in the finals.

The Mailman-Lee combo had their shots working for them in the opening set and was able to grab the early advantage with a 6-3 victory.

Jones and Minor remained upbeat and put up a stronger fight in the second set, but came up just a bit short as Mailman and Lee were able to close out the bout and win the title, 7-5.

The men’s 4.5 finals was also settled as Roy Pangelinan and Dino Jones were able to claw back from going down in the first set to win the next two and take home the crown.

Pangelinan and Jones were given a good run for their money as Nanding Cajigan and Buddy Garote opened strong and took the first set, 6-3.

Pangelinan and Jones recovered well and took the second set, 6-3, then completed their comeback with a 6-4

Also earning top honors in their division were Bobby Nato and Ramon Angeles, who after having a tough first set, were able to cruise in the second for a straight sets victory over Vener Urena and Romy Pandoro in the men’s 2.0 finals. It was a back-and-forth first set as both teams came out gunning. Nato and Angeles, however, were able to get the big hits when needed and won, 7-6 (7-5).

It got easier for the two in the second as they strolled to a 6-1 victory.

Meanwhile, several teams were able to earn tickets to the finals in their divisions.

Pangelinan and fellow veteran Peter Loyola were phenomenal in the men’s open as the two took care of business and advanced past the semifinals with a straight sets victory over Imasato Tomonai and Nicolas Son 6-3, 6-3.

Hector Benitez and Renato Espanola will face Ronnie Lacbayo and Mel Pila in the finals of the men’s 4.0 after both teams left the courts on high notes.

Benitez and Espanola had their way against Ganover Rettin and Tony Santos for a 6-4, 6-3 victory, while Lacbayo and Pila defeated Didith Julve and Boboy Sergio 6-2, 6-3.

Karen Ramsey and Marilyn Bellas also had the same success in the women’s 4.0 semis as the duo eliminated Nelia Luna and Felicia Debrum in another tough outing. Ramsey and Bellas took the first set 6-4, and had a rough time but overcame their challenge with a 7-6 (7-2) clincher.

Cleofe Santos and Hector Benitez are also in the finals of the 4.0 mixed doubles, beating Abet Encarnacion and Merle Hudkins 6-3, 6-1, while the Ramsey one-two punch of Dr. Gary and Karen got past Feel Kalen and Thesel Minor, 6-1, 6-2.

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.