Guam pair tops men’s over 40 doubles

George Lai, left, and Eddie Wu, wait for the ball from their opponents Ken Imaya and Joe Quitugua during their men’s over 40 doubles title game in the 6th Tan Holdings Tennis Classic last Sunday at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan tennis courts. (Contributed Photo)

The visiting players were pitted against Saipan’s Ken Imaya and Joe Quitugua in the title match at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan tennis courts and dropped the opening set, 2-6, before sweeping the last two sets, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) to nail the come-from-behind win.

George Lai and Wu were at the bottom half of the draw and gained the group’s finals berth after recording two straight-set wins. The eventual champions first swept Diony Peralta and Nonoy Masinda, 6-2, 6-2, last Friday at Fiesta before easing past Gary Ramsey and Noel Biglete last Saturday’s semifinals, 6-1, 6-2.

In the other semis pairing, Imaya and Quitugua needed three sets to dethrone 2013 champions David and Sam Lai, 6-1, 4-6, 10-8. Imaya and Quitugua set a semis date with the deposed champions after a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Jorge Olanda and George Poquiz. David and Sam Lai, on the other hand, gained the automatic semis seat in the upper half of the bracket for drawing a bye in the first round.

In the men’s Open doubles, Luke Beling had a new partner in Peter Loken and the two veteran players won over junior bets Tommy Choi and Moris Villanueva in the finals, 6-3, 6-4.

Beling, who teamed up with CNMI coach Jeff Race in conquering last year’s men’s Open doubles, and Loken were incidentally paired against Race and Dun Dunlop in the semis and won their first match in the division, 6-1, 6-3, to advance to the finals in the upper half of the bracket.

In the lower half of the draw, Villanueva and Choi prevailed against fellow junior players Michael Ren and Luther Lizama, 6-4, 7-5, to notch the second finals ticket. Ren and Lizama made it to the semis after slipping past Don Lacbayo and Richard Asuncion, 4-6, 6-2, 11-9.

In the men’s doubles 3.0, after missing the over 40 crown, Quitugua finally entered the champions circle as he teamed up with Adonis Capiendo in downing Chris Park and Gabriele Colombo in the finals, 6-4, 4-6, 10-8.

Quitugua and Capiendo barged into the finals after a victory via default over David Steinberg and Ron Wright and a semis triumph against junior players Clayton Izuka and Alex Park, 6-4, 6-0, in the bottom half of the draw. At the top half of the draw, Chris Park and Colombo took the finals berth following their wins over father and son Randy and Richard Steele, 6-1, 6-1, and Jaime Hagos and Romy Pandoro, 6-0, 6-0.

Meanwhile, Imaya and Don Castillo and Vickie Izuka and Mayling Colombo completed the doubles champions list of the annual tournament. Castillo and Imaya claimed the men’s 4.0 doubles crown, while Vickie and Mayling notched the women’s 3.0 tiara.

Vickie and Mayling prevailed in a round-robin contest, winning over Maaya and C. Sato, 7-6 (7-5), 5-0 (retired) and against Caitlin Tinney and Norma Ada, 6-0, 6-2.

Imaya and Castillo topped the seven-team draw, clinching the division championship after sweeping Bong Gamab and Boboy Sergio, 6-3, 6-2. The eventual champions advanced to the finals after scoring a semis win over Robbie Schorr and J.R. Jacinto, 6-1, 6-2, while Sergio and Gamab made it to the title match following a 6-4, 6-2 win against junior players Colin Ramsey and Sean Lee.