Upsets trend continues

Two more seeded teams met their doom in the second day of doubles competition in the 2nd Annual Taga Tennis Tournament Thursday night at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

Women’s 4.0 top seeds Nelia Luna and Arlene Osma were tripped 8-1 by Merle Hudkins and Ligaya Paculanang. Luna and Osama, however, are still not out of it since the division is employing a pro-sets format.

In men’s 4.5, Peter Loyola and Hector Benitez continued their march to respectability after ousting Buddy Garote and Bong Gamab 6-4, 6-1. The tandem of Nanding Cajigan and Ronnie Lacbayo also advanced in the division after waylaying Boyet Minor and Edwin Maratas 6-3, 7-5.

The lone men’s 4.0 match of the evening saw Lacbayo team up with Mel Pila in their 6-1, 6-1 beating of the Commonwealth Health Center pair of Richard “Doc” Brostrom and Gary Ramsey. Lacbayo and Pila are the third seeds in the category.

Four men’s 3.0 matches were finished Thursday. Saipan Tennis Association vice president-external Ricky Castro and his partner Babu Malayil lead the cast of winners after they overwhelmed Sam Apostol and Romy Espeleta 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

Mario Buensuceso and Masahiro Tanaka are safely into the next round after hurdling Noel Manalang and Michael Seawright 7-5, 6-3. Lemuel Arabelo and Doy Ligan also advanced following their hard-earned 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Edwin Quismundo and Eric Mahinay. Roy Banados and Manny Jaraplasan came out on top of the father-and-son pairing of Joe Motto Sr. and Joe Jr. 7-5, 1-6, 6-3.

In the men’s 2.0, Joe San Nicolas and J.C. San Nicolas brought out the broom in their 6-0, 6-0 win over J. Domingo and T. Vergara. Bobby Nato and Zhe Qui also won after beating Louie Cagampang and Dencio Daquioag 6-1, 6-3. The father-and-son tandem of Sonny and Benjie Decena also made their ferry trip from Tinian worth it following their 7-5, 7-6 (10-8) win over Phil Kalen and Yuri Gryaznov.

For more information about the 2nd Annual Taga Tennis Tournament, please call STA president Roy Pangelinan at 256-7769, vice president-internal Nelia Luna at 288-5151 or 287-0859, vice president-external Ricky Castro at 234-7426, and officers Richard Asuncion at 287-0856, Babu Malayil at 286-9745, and Lope Padilla at 286-9733. Inquries can also be coursed via email at saipan_tennis@yahoo.com.