STA opens 3rd Verizon Cup

A panoply of grunts, pops, and squeaks filled the air in Garapan as the Saipan Tennis Association unfurled the 3rd Annual Verizon Tennis Cup on Tuesday evening upon the courts of the American Memorial Park to the delight of players and sports fans alike.

Before any of the players unsheathed their racquets of choice and raced from line to line, they honored the tournament organizers and sponsors with an audience.

“On behalf of the Saipan Tennis Association we would like to sincerely thank Verizon for your continued support of the STA. This is the third year in a row, and we are so fortunate that we still have you behind us,” said STA president Roy Pangelinan.

While he thanked all of the participants for their interest, Pangelinan reminded the players that while the games can become rather intense, that sportsmanship should prevail, lest an individual seek a hasty end to their outing.

“I would like to sincerely thank the players for their participation in the tournament, and without whom the tournament would not be successful,” he said.

Pangelinan yielded the floor to Verizon general manager Tony Mosley, who said that the telecommunications giant appreciated the opportunity to sponsor the tournament, but that they would not have the ability were it not for the free-swinging enthusiasts who repeatedly take to the courts to participate in the sport that they love.

“We feel the need to sponsor events in the community and this is just another one that we enjoy sponsoring every year. It wouldn’t be much without all of you that are players who come out and lend your support to this great event,” he said.

Mosley added that he hopes that his company can continue to lend its support in the future and wished everyone the best of luck in the tournament.

“Have a great time out, enjoy yourselves, and again, great sportsmanship creates great tournaments,” said Mosley

After the Mosley fired off the opening serve to get the tournament underway, the players attacked the green hardcourts in the opening nine matches of the evening. In the men’s 4.0, the duo of Father Ryan Jimenez and Renato “Dodong” Espanola received a gift from above in their first contest as their opponents Chuck Sayon and Didith Julve failed to appear. While Edwin Mahinay and Ronnie Lacbayo had to face opponents to advance to the next round, they made quick work of Manny Po and Burt Ventura 6-0, 6-2 to do so.

The tandem of Ricky Castro and Roy Banados also breezed into the second round by virtue of their 6-2, 6-2 sinking of Keith Gabaldon and Abet Encarnacion. Jorge Olanda and Edwin Maratas earned their bid to play again, but their contest with Gary Ramsey and Richard Bostrom was not as easily won as the others. Olanda and Maratas gutted out a closely contested 7-5 win in the first set before taking the second, 6-2.

The action continued to sizzle in the 3.5 division as Alfredo Quiroz and Boy Cruz survived Ruben Leynes and Roy Banados in the most evenly scored match of the night, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 to advance, while Jack Evans and Edward Casing edged out Noel Manalang and Ramon Angeles 7-5, 6-3.

Brett Nelson and Steve Nutting scored more of a decisive victory when they handed Ruben Reyes and Lito Santos back-to-back 6-2 defeats.

The men closed out the night’s festivities with a spirited match in the 3.0 division between two father and son teams, as Tatsurori and Ryuichi Gotanda eliminated Mac Duffy Llaban and son Patrick 6-2, 6-3.