SupHub hosts 2nd Mini Pickleball Tourney

The second Saipan Ultimate Pickleball Hub (SupHub) Mini Tournament in a series of monthly tournaments planned for this year was held over the weekend of Saturday, Feb. 7 and Sunday, Feb. 8 at the SupHub location in Tanapag. It saw dozens of pickleball players gather for matches across multiple categories including 3.0 and 3.5 mixed, men’s, women’s, and double trouble.

On Sunday, in the 3.5 Mixed Doubles division, Elisha Chelsea Henzon and Richard Asuncion finished first with a score of 12-10 over second place Marivic Dunlop and Donn Dunlop. Llyanna Jairah Libut and Michael Jornal placed third after a close matchup against the Dunlops.

Henzon and Asuncion, who both also won SupHub’s January Mini Tournament, have been playing together for about three years now and are confident with their game. Asuncion said of their finals against the Dunlops, “our game was intense. We went 6-10, and went up until 12-10.” Henzon said, “It was a really close game, thank you to our opponents, they’re really good.”

She added that their strategy was to coordinate with each other and communicate.

With their win again in as many tournaments, Henzon said that it felt really good because she was nervous. Both players also mentioned they are training to compete in a Guam tournament in April. “Just getting a lot of tournaments in, a lot of practice, so we can really show Guam what’s up,” said Henzon.

Also on Sunday, in the 3.0 Women’s Doubles, Fatima Pascual and Cha Florendo captured first place. Yun Qin Zheng and Jian Zhi Yu finished second, while Clarissa Palumar and Lea Verzon came in third.

In the 3.5 Double Trouble division, Mike Manalang and Michael Jornal took first place, Luo Hui and Jian Chun Yu secured second, and Karl Jhean Kwan and Jihun “Cris” Kim finished third.

On Saturday, competition began with the 3.0 Mixed Doubles division, where Clarissa Palumar and Christian Allan Mejia took first place, 11-5, against Fatima Pascual and Ambet Omampo, who finished second. Nina Manzon and Jan Socorro came in third.

Palumar and Mejia, who were first-time partners, said that they won based on luck and teamwork because they have not practiced together. Mejia’s wife was on the second place team and jokingly said that she gave way for him to win.

Palumar, who said she loves pickleball, plays almost every day at the SupHub. Mejia added, “We enjoy playing pickleball because not only it gives us exercise, but also it’s fun to play.”

In the 3.0 Men’s Doubles division, Cris Hilario and Mcoi Aguda secured the top spot. Fabian Florendo and Jonathan Liwag placed second, and Alan Mejia and Ambet Omampo finished third.

And in the 3.5 Men’s Doubles division, Mike Manalang and Michael Jornal claimed first place, Eric Abragan and Marc Levi Omampo took second, while Ronnie Lacbayo and Hector Benitez placed third.