Like to extend heartfelt thank you’s to the staff of Impact–Ms Nuey who always manages my trophy drop off and water on Friday, and the set up for tables and banner along with Mr. Boy. Thank you to Mr. Steve Koon for his undying support and access to his amazing Players. Thank you to Ms Yoohan for playing an exhibition and Thank you to Mr. Tetta for putting it on the line. Special thank you to Mr. Duke, Mrs. Nalin, and Mr. Ting for their assistance during the event ( I wasn’t at full power as I had food poisoning Wednesday) Thank you to our sponsor High Tea for amazing food–LOVE THAT LASAGNA and BURRITO. As well special mahalos to all players because no one complained–greatly appreciated. Let’s tell a story….
“Yo G” Duke said to me.
“Yes”
“My bro is coming down from Malaysia to play your event “
“Whoa International flavor. Ok”
(l-r Duke and Revin)
“Gary. We are bringing in some players for Men’s 5.0 doubles. Can you bring Chris? We want to play you.” Shane
“Sure. I play anyone with Chris.”
(l-r Nute, Jayui, Gary, Dream, Drew) Jayui is a player I seen play many tournaments before (I really wanted to try play him). Dream and Drew always play our events and are amazing coaches also.
Champ, Gary, High, Dream, Drew (l-r)
Champ won a gold medal at the Sea Game. Steve’s analysis– That guy has a huge serve and a big forehand. I have talked to Steve about players and when Mackenzie Macdonald was training at Impact. Steve didn’t say anything about Mackie’s serve so I wondered. Then, I saw it. That’s a big serve–with speed and movement.
Palm, Gary, and Bee– Bee is a coach at Impact I see all the time, and apparently he toured and was 800 in the world, he played with Shane
A regular at our events, Leilani and I lost to him and Boon a few months ago
Knott, Monz, High, and Champ rounded out the field so we had six players, and couldn’t get the 8 we needed so there were two groups. One seed was Dream/Drew so Group A. Two seed was Jayui/Nut in Group B. Three seed was Gary/Chris so Group B. Random the rest so Shane and Bee group B and High/Champ and Knot/Monz in Group A because we didn’t know who they were.
“Hey Gary” Steve Koons wrote.
“Yo.”
“I want Yoohan to have a match can we do an exhibition with a crowd. Who’s your best guy? “
“Whoa. Tetta.”
Yoohan 50 in the world playing Junior Wimbledon next week and Tetta the legend, one loss in one tournament–none in league play. Champion 6 times.
When we talk about a table being set, there is a buffet and there is the Omakase. In light of Toroline’s theme, this was an OMAKASE.
Ravin came in and handled the singles and played Mixed with Nalin.
Ravin Singles Champion! and the Return of the Sam
Unfortunately, the Cramp-Pa Award goes to Ravin.
And apparently, he gets the GOLD MEDAL AWARD as he went on to play after the cramps came in–during his singles, and still won. But alas in the doubles, it was too much.
IN the Men’s Doubles 5.0, Bee/Shane succumbed to the Power Game of Chris and Under Power Game of Gary-their team name is “We can Volley” 6-4. Chris did play for UCLA and did tour for a bit so he’s legit. And Gary is just a crafty old doubles specialist with alot of luck and alot of savvy (Gary did go to USA Nationals for Team Tennis 11 times representing Hawaii in Men’s and Mixed, Open Mixed Doubles #1 ranking, Men’s Doubles #4, and Men 4.5 #1 Singles/Doubles in Hawaii and can kind of volley). High/Champ tore through their side with Dream/Drew taking second. Jayui/Nut fell to Gary/Chris 6-1. But the rains came and High/Champ could not play the final. Drew/Dream took Third while Jayui/Nut took fourth, but it was a long day
The Exhibition saw Yoohan live up to her name and reputation, playing easily the highest level that I have seen and won over Tetta. The crowd was in awe of the power and speed on the court. Tetta ended up losing but went on to take his frustration out on all the Men 5.5 in his group dropping 2 games in three matches.
Meanwhile, a tournament was in the works.
The Sunrise Warriors opened combat at 730 am with Kim taking First over Boat in the Men 3.0.
(l-r Boat, Gary, and Kim )Jayson (Leilani’s Dad) took the 3.5 with his guile and skills over Kiak.
In the other group, Beep lost to Bom, but Beep twisted his ankle in the first match, using his super speed to slide on the court but his new shoe didn’t comply as his shoe stuck while his body didn’t–Newton’s Second Law. On one leg, he battled to the final but with limited mobility he succumbed to Bom.
Men 5.5 saw the arrival of Oat.
“Hey Gary my friend Oat wants to play 5.5” Dream said.
“Who’s Oat?”
no reply
Oat from Upenn where he played squash, well he could have played tennis too. Oat went through Leilani and Duke 6-1 with a hard fought match vs JJ 6-4–Duke edged Leilani in a Tiebreaker 7-4 for second. Mixed 4.0 was a family affair with Dream/Khaek (his mom) beating Drew/Achara (really, you think Drew could beat his mom…)
(l-r Revin, Dr. Nalin, Gary, Mrs. Khaek (Dream’s Mom), Dream)
The doubles saw Boon/Job edging out Thanid/Tanakit in the MD4.0 while M4.0 saw Tuck edge Darut.
(l-r Great -Gain’s Brother, Sora, Gary, Supachai, Mark) Marak/Supachai took down Sora/Gain in MD3.5 while Tetta and Pon were in the other 5.5. Fern, she of the the one handed backhand, won W3.0 over Piraporn–for the last time, when you have an one handed backhand, you’re pretty legit. Bee/Palm avenged their earlier loss to Gary/Chris with a 6-4 win over Gary/Leilani who beat out Nueng/Ice in a close 6-3. Dom won the Men 5.0 over Likasit.
As the rains cleared, Dom walked over to Gary. “So how long will this be?” (630 pm now).
“You want the truth? or you want me to lie.”
“Truth”
“There are 50 matches left, that’s 8 rotations. With the modified format, we can go through 3 rotations an hour, we will be done in 2.5 hours but we can’t start for another hour and a half. “
and Dom walked away but he stayed and became the Champion in a heated match over Knott and close ones with Likasit and Poom. Excellent tennis to Dom.
Pat and Tawachai prevailed over PD/Boom in MD3.0–we think they need to play higher now.
Mixed saw the return of Dao and Sing–Champion over Kittikun/Ploy
while the other group saw Ying/Ta over Nina/Tanin. The closing sounds of the evening belonged to Thani, Great, Jirawat, and Park with Park winning over Jirawat. But any match with Great and Thani is a classic.
As I sat there with an Asahi, edamame, and a chocolate tart.
This selfie sums up how we were. Thank you to Duke, Nalin, and Ting for all of their help. Having a beer and watching some amazing tennis, my hand started to cramp.
“Bro that’s how Ravin cramped, he had a beer.”
As I reached to finish my beer, I dropped it… but that’s karma, because my hand cramped up so bad after that.
The evening was done and we survived two rain delays for the first time in 32 tournaments.
A reflection of the moment. The day was long but the support and camaraderie from the Ohana of Toroline TPTL was very real and vivid. During each rain delay, people quickly grabbed rollers to dry the courts and get matches going. Laughter and conversation abounded. There were oohs and ahhs over great shots and missed opportunities. The secret to any endeavor is passion and our people reek of it. Til July 12 series 33
Aloha hui hou. Ohana means family and no one plays alone.
All in all, the Omakase was perfect