Heo completes title defense

A new-look Ji Hoon Heo completed his title defense in the men’s open finals in the Pacific Islands Club-Gatorade Tennis Championships held yesterday at the PIC tennis courts.

A visibly buffed-up and well-rested Heo, wearing an all-white wife-beater, coasted to a 6-3, 6-3, win over Peter Loyola to claim his second straight title this year after rallying to beat mentor Jeff Race, 9-7, in last month’s Coconut Classic finals.

“I had a good sleep last night to prepare for this game. Though I am a bit sluggish at the net since I am using a new racquet, which is heavier compared to the one I have previously used,” said Heo, who added he has to practice more using his new racquet.

The win also improved Heo’s head-to-head match up with former Philippine collegiate player Loyola, 5-3. It was also Heo’s third straight win over Loyola dating back from last year’s final.

It was also Heo’s fifth straight title since winning the 2007 PIC Gatorade Tennis. Some of Heo’s other wins last year was the DFS Micronesian Tennis in May and the 4th Taga Tennis.

Heo survived the hot and humid weather to easily win the first set then continued to dictate the tempo of the mach in the second when he went up 3-0.

Loyola threatened at 3-4 but Heo was unstoppable as he made him work the baseline from end to end. A number of times both players had long periods of rallies and exchanges at the net that drew cheers and applause from the close to 50 spectators that trooped to the PIC courts.

Loyola also played superb tennis as he managed to sneak in a couple of forehand winners against his younger opponent. Heo, however, bounced back with carefully placed baseline shots and patiently worked his way at the net.

The tournament also serves a warm-up for Heo as he leaves for Seoul, South Korea, this April 3 to join in the Lee Duk Hee Korean International Junior Championships and the Jeju International Junior Championships.

Both events are International Tennis Federation Junior tournaments that could earn the Mariana High School student needed ITF points to barge in the world junior rankings.

Heo had an easy 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Steve Nutting in the semis, while Loyola outlasted Race, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, in the other semifinal match.

In the girls’ 13-and-under division finals, Theecel Minor survived the gallant stand of 8-year-old Negahr Rastguiy in a 6-2, 6-0 win.

Rastguiy, who is competing against players older than her, scored back-to-back wins over Amy Arenovski, 7-6, 6-3, and Jeane Bracken, 6-1, 6-1, to earn a finals berth. Minor, who drew a bye in the first round, defeated Ilia Corella, 6-0, 6-1.

Matty Buenaventura won the women’s 4.0 title after a 6-2, 6-1 victory against Lydia Tan. Buenaventura downed Kisses Aquino, 6-0, 6-2, while Tan defeated Ellen Uy, 6-0, 6-2 to arrange a finals showdown.

Championship matches in the boys’ and girls’ 9-and-under, boys’ 13-and-under, men’s 3.0 and 4.0, and women’s open were still being played at press time.