Dunlop, Manansala, Hanzen are royalty

Pickleball players from the CNMI and Guam join for a group photo last Saturday at the American Memorial Park tennis court during the “King’s Court” event. (LEIGH GASES)

After a whole Saturday of fun under the sun at the American Memorial Park pickleball courts, Donn Dunlop and Albert Manansala were crowned kings and rising teenage star Chelsea Henzon was crowned queen of the Pickleball Federation of the Northern Mariana Islands’ King Court tourney.

Manansala, a pickleball player from Guam, began on the King’s Court and had to fight off all challengers that came his way. 

Dunlop, a pickleball player from Saipan, worked his way up from five courts down at the start. An honorable mention needs to be given to Guam’s formidable Derek Alcorn, who teamed up with Dale Roberts of Saipan in their last match to reach the King’s Court at tournament’s end.

Alcorn had to struggle through the lower courts throughout the morning, bouncing back and forth as he graciously played a “gentleman’s game” with the club’s newer and less experienced players. 

In the afternoon, Alcorn ramped it up and won six straight matches to end up on the King’s Court with Dunlop and Manansala, a valiant challenger to the throne. It was two Saipan and two Guam players all together at the end.

After the game, Manansala told the PFNMI that, “on behalf of our pickleball family from Guam we would like to thank each and every one of you Saipan Pickleballers for hosting us once again, the hospitality and tournament organizers is top notch, we can’t thank all you enough and we promise to be back in November and play with all of you again. We love you Saipan pickleball family!”

Manansala also told Saipan Tribune during their morning session that the players on Saipan have “grown” and have “advanced” since the last time Guam pickleball players were on Saipan last July.

According to the PFNMI, the event was not an actual tournament but was designed as a fun event where every player would play 16 10-minute matches and the goal of each player was to reach and be on the King’s Court at the end.

There were eight rounds played in the morning and eight rounds in the evening. All matches were doubles, and after each match, the winners moved clockwise toward the King’s Court while the losers moved counterclockwise toward the Jester’s Court.

Then each team would split up so that they did not play with the same partner, using rock, scissors, paper to determine their new teammate, creating new, randomly selected matchups.

Players’ starting positions and first partners were drawn randomly by a computer program, so there were advantages and disadvantages, but a challenge for everyone at each new match.

Players who received good draws on the Top 3 courts needed to defend their position, while those who started on the lower courts needed to fight their way up to the top courts before the event ended. Chaos reigned and created lots of good camaraderie along the way.

Marivic Dunlop, tournament director of the event, organized a successful and fun program, according to PFNMI. Gameplay ended with a potluck dinner and a gift exchange for all involved, spectators as well.

Marivic is Saipan’s top female but drew a start at the very bottom, on the second court. She worked her way up to the third court from the top, an admirable feat, but as the final match needed to be canceled as everyone was tired and anxious for the fun part to begin, she ran out of time to be able to challenge for the queen.

First-time player Shelly Tran of Paradise Dental said, “This was the most fun day in my pickleball life! I can’t thank the amazing team enough for putting in all the work to make it happen. It was so much fun to watch the last event but getting to play in this was on a whole other level. I feel so lucky that I get to come in after and enjoy this wonderful community that Nelson, Donna, Donn, Marivic, Nicky [Nicholson], and so many fun people here have helped create. You guys are what make Saipan special”.

A telling remark was made when Dale Roberts was asked about his finish on the King’s Court, he credited his success to his remarkable prowess in the rock-scissors-paper to continually draw the best partners so he could advance. It sums up the randomness of this truly fun format, where everyone wins.

Lastly, Nicky Nichols, a pickleballer, said that Saipan’s pickleballers feel that Nelson and Donna Krum are “also kings and queens for all their support” and that they all thank them both for advancing pickleball in Saipan.

The “King’s Court” event served as a prelude to PFNMI’s Inaugural Marianas Cup between the CNMI and Guam set for Nov. 5, also at the AMP tennis courts.