Pickleball Tournament in Guam Draws Enthusiastic Participation and Crowns Multiple Champions
What's the Score?
The Pickleball Guam Association Spring Tournament 2025 attracted 50 players and awarded 54 medals across various divisions. The tournament, held over two days, featured competitive matches and crowned champions in men's and women's singles and doubles at both the open and intermediate levels.
Hit it deeper!
The Pickleball Guam Association (PGA) Spring Tournament 2025, held at the tennis courts next to the Tamuning Mayor’s Office, was a successful event, drawing the participation of over 50 athletes who competed in more than 160 matches over two days. A total of 54 medals were awarded across the various divisions, highlighting the depth of competition and enthusiasm for pickleball in Guam.
A notable storyline of the tournament was the success of former tennis players Aaron Bonto and William Endozo, who, with only a few months of pickleball experience, entered the men’s open singles and doubles divisions and secured top spots. In the men’s open doubles final, after navigating pool play and a double-elimination playoff, Bonto and Endozo defeated Jayson Morales and Erolyn Lagroma after an earlier loss to Jason Salazar and Alex Walsh seemed to increase their focus. Their strong chemistry, stemming from their long-standing partnership, contributed to their dominant final performance, where they even achieved a "pickle" (11-0) in the first game.
The final match of the tournament was the men’s open singles final, which pitted teammates Bonto and Endozo against each other. Despite Endozo’s accurate forehand previously earning him points, he struggled with errors and pressure from Bonto’s net play. Bonto took an early 8-1 lead, but Endozo rallied to close the gap to 8-7 after a timeout. Ultimately, Bonto regained control, winning 11-7 to claim the gold medal. Bonto expressed mixed emotions, happy with his win but also feeling for his defeated teammate.
In the women’s singles open division, Jane Quitano triumphed over Annie Zhao with a score of 11-3. Quitano and Zhao then teamed up to win the women’s doubles open title in a three-team round robin against Amy Cho and April Cosico, and Cari Nakagawa and Cathleen Moore-Linn.
The women’s doubles intermediate division saw Natasha Susuico and Audre Xiong defeat Diana Green and Reina Shintaku 11-4 in the final. The bronze medal went to Ritacia Fegurgur and April Cosico. In the men’s doubles intermediate division, veterans Bong Mojas and Keith Guerrero, both in their mid-50s, defeated teenagers Ben Somera (13) and Bryson Yang (14) 11-3 in a game marked by line challenges. Mojas, who hadn’t initially planned to enter, partnered with Guerrero after seeing a post in the PGA’s WhatsApp chat. Their practices together led to a strong performance. Guerrero, relatively new to the sport and having entered his first tournament in November 2024, was thrilled with his championship win, declaring pickleball his main sport now. The bronze medal in men's doubles intermediate went to Todd Yip and DJ Balmores.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The Pickleball Guam Association Spring Tournament 2025 showcases the growing popularity and competitive spirit of pickleball within the local community. The strong participation across different skill levels and the crowning of numerous champions highlight the vibrant pickleball scene in Guam. The success of former tennis players Aaron Bonto and William Endozo, quickly adapting to pickleball and achieving top honours, underscores the transferable skills between the two sports. The camaraderie between the players, even in the final match, reflects the positive and engaging nature of the pickleball community. The victory of veteran players in the intermediate division over younger competitors also demonstrates the sport's appeal to a wide age range. Overall, the PGA Spring Tournament was a successful event that further strengthens the pickleball community in Guam and celebrates the achievements of its players.