5/16/2015 Rossmoor Tournament

Click here to view  Tournament Photos

Rossmoor 8/23/2014

Click on following for slideshow

Rossmoor 8/23/2014

Rossmoor 5/17/2014

Each year the CourtJesters visit Rossmoor and later on they visit us. This year the trip provided an opportunity to see the improvements made at their facility. The result was a win for Rossmoor (15-7). 

As usual, they were gracious hosts, providing eats, drinks, and a friendly environment. Based upon the photos provided, it looks like the CourtJesters spent most of their time eating, drinking, and "mugging" for the camera :-)  Take a look at the photos and decide for yourself.

Click to view photos

New Years Eve 2012

 

 

 

 

Good Life Games

Hello tennis players!!!Cora took some pictures of our trip to beautiful Trilogy at Vistancia in Peoria, Arizona and we would like to share them with you.

The GOOD LIFE GAMES concept is about many things but mainly it is about COMPETING, WINNING and CONNECTING. It provided us non-stop fun and excitement from the moment we arrived in Arizona.

ABOUT COMPETING AND WINNING

Our tennis team competed in the finals against the regional winners of four Trilogy communities. Although the designers of the GOOD LIFE GAMES hoped for light competition, our tennis players trained to win every point, and if necessary, win without mercy.

Our women's doubles team of Judy Griffith and Marsha Penning played to win, and boy did they win, they played to near perfection. They played four opponents and they beat every opponent who stood in their way.

Our mix-doubles team of Naomi Subala and Orlando Devera, from the coaches view, were better players but the leg cramps by our player got the best of her. Naomi and Orlando were always in the match as evidenced by three consecutive 12 point tie-breakers.

ABOUT CONNECTING

There were many events designed to make connections with the players from the four other Trilogy communities and Trilogy staff members. The night before the tournament, all the players, players' guests and staff members from the other Trilogy communities were treated to a sumptuous Mariachi theme dinner and live entertainment at the gorgeous backyard festive setting at the Kiva Club at Trilogy at Vistancia. The staff members visited every dinner table introducing themselves. Even Tim Steckbeck, Vice President Resort & Golf Services for Shea Homes Incorporated chatted with us and he too watched exciting tennis.

Another event designed to interact socially was Saturday morning before the Tournament. Celebrity tennis player John Austin conducted a clinic. Every player got to hit balls with John Austin and when not hitting balls, players were interacting socially.

The last event designed to connect was Saturday evening at the awards banquet held at the Marriott Resort Hotel where we were staying. During cocktail hour people were interacting. After dinner and awards were presented a live band entertained with dancing music. The dance floor was always packed and Marsha even danced with John Austin.

Here's what Naomi had to say about CONNECTING. "I guess the most important memory I would cherish was the camaraderie and the bond which brought us Trilogy at Rio Vista tennis team together whether in or outside the tennis courts. It is my greatest privilege to have played in the first historical tennis event for our community. I have also gained quite a few tennis friends from Trilogy at Redmond Ridge in Washington and Trilogy at Glen Ivy in California. They even invited us to visit and play with them."

Sometimes it is difficult to have friendly social interaction against an opponent you just destroyed with a score of 6-1. But after a match, you cannot help interacting with Judy and Marsha because not only do THEY HAVE GAMES, they also are extremely friendly with a tremendous sense of humor. After the tournament, in the bus on the way back to the Marriott Hotel Resort, two female opponents approached Judy and Marsha and one said, "We want to invite you both to our tennis club to see if anyone could get a point off you. The player who gets a point off you will win a prize." Everybody in the bus heard this and it evoked laughter from everyone. By the way, we also interacted with Southwest Airlines employees. At over 5,000 feet above ground level, the staff sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JUDY GRIFFITH.

ABOUT JOHN AUSTIN

John Austin is the brother of former tennis start Tracy Austin who presently does tennis announcing on television. Yaz Tavatli, my tennis contact at Vistancia and the coordinator of the tournament, told me that John and Tracy won Winmbledon tennis doubles championship about 1982. John was very sociable and he spent a lot of time chatting with us. Out of curiosity, I asked which tennis resort he is presently handling and he told me that about 100 miles away from Phoenix, he is in charge of 25 courts. I asked why would a tennis complex have this many tennis courts and he said for big national tournaments.

ABOUT JOEL REGER

Joel Reger, Resort Operations Director here at Trilogy at Rio Vista, played a major role for our team and did an outstanding job. He flew ahead of us because he wanted to make sure the that he will be there at the Phoenix airport to greet us and provide bus transportation for the tennis players, the golf players and players' guests. He was constantly on his cell phone to call the other end that we are on the way. He accompanied us to all the events and made sure we are all taken care properly. Joel even watched the tennis matches and we could tell he had pride in our Rio Vista team. During the evening festivities, he made sure everything ran smoothly. When the bus came late to the hotel in the morning because of mechanical problem, as soon as the replacement bus came, he and an associate arranged to phone the other end to have hot coffee ready. Again, Joel did an incredibly outstanding job and we could not thank him enough.

ABOUT KIRSTI EVANS

Our departure to Phoenix from here in Rio Vista would not have been possible without the help from Kirsti Evans, Activity Director here at Trilogy at Rio Vista. Kirsti made sure everybody got their airplane tickets and she kept us in the loop with all pertinent matters regarding THE GOOD LIFE GAMES. Her role was flawless and we cannot thank her enough.

ABOUT SHEA HOMES INCORPORATED

We want to thank Shea Homes Inc enormously for giving us the opportunity to compete and to connect at the spectacular resort at Trilogy at Vistancia. We had an exciting experience being a part of the GOOD LIFE GAMES, in fact WE HAD A BLAST! This event was huge for us because it was historical. This was the first time tennis was included and to win the women's doubles championship and win second place in mix-doubles the first time we participated...this is sweet and even more huge.

ABOUT OUR COURT JESTERS TENNIS CLUB SUPPORT

We also want to thank our club for the support and cooperation to make everything possible. Without the participants in the pre-qualifying tournaments, the many people who came to watch the tournaments cheering for both the underdogs and the upperdogs , help from Dave Hinders, Chuck Williams and Cora Velasco for helping me put the stories and pictures together, help from Joe Downes and Joe Mattos for their constant involvement in making sure the members know what is happening every step of the way.......the entire event would not have been possible. We want to thank in advance everybody who arranged for our team's WELCOME BACK WINNERS PARTY to be held Sunday 11/18/07 6:00pm. Thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks!!!!! If I missed anyone, I apologize.

ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL TENNIS FACILITY AT TRILOGY AT VISTANCIA

Our tennis tennis players were in awe and envious of the tennis facility at Trilogy at Vistancia. Trilogy at Vistancia had four tennis courts and all had lights and all located in the same area, right next to the community clubhouse. Center court was a sight to see with its sunken design with abundant seating spaces. They even had a huge picnic area with tables and seats located between courts #1 and #3. Maybe someday, we too here at Trilogy at Rio Vista will have tennis courts just like Vistancia. Awe!!!

FOR NEXT YEAR'S GOOD LIFE GAMES

For next year, I will propose to include men's doubles. If you think THE GOOD LIFE GAMES is exciting, start practicing your tennis so you too can qualify in the regional level .

George

Mixed Doubles Finals

Hello tennis fans!

Today Sunday 9/30/07 at 8:00am, the mix doubles tennis championship was played and here is the result. The champion team ...is...not...#1 seeded players Nancy Whitney/George Sablan. The champion team... is... #3 seeded Naomi Subala/Orlando Devera and you all better get use to their names because you are now going to be seeing them a lot at the top. In the entire tournament, they bulldozed everybody on the other side of the net and lost not even one set. Was it a fluke that they made it to the semi-finals? Maybe. Was it a fluke that they beat the #2 seeded players Tommie Matsushino/Leo Taylor? Maybe. Was it a fluke that they beat the #1 seeded players Nancy/George? Throw out the window the words FLUKE and MAYBE because there was no longer any doubt that they are real champions. They are INDUBITABLY real champions. The only time there was a semblance that the match was going to be interesting was on the first set when the score was one game apiece. Nancy and George started out focused on their objectives, many things going their way, but as the match progressed, Naomi and Orlando started to foil those objectives. On the second set, Nancy /George changed strategies, but soon found out they could not match the stamina and resilience from Naomi/Orlando. Nancy/George dug deep to find in their repertoire of shots, something they could use to turn things around but nothing worked because everything was clicking in Naomi and Orlando's way. Naomi played brilliantly at the baseline returning everything poured to her and Orlando played brilliantly at the net, even when George hit power shots from anywhere on the court. 

 After the match, Chuck asked, "George, when you write up the results of this game, are you going to be using the word PULVERIZED to describe the defeat?" I told Chuck that his choice of this word is quite descriptive because Naomi and Orlando actually destroyed us, i.e., PULVERIZED us. Now that I am out of a trance and had more time to think of what happened, I felt as if Naomi and Orlando not only pulverized us but HUMBLED US TO SUBMISSION. Naomi and Orlando made history today by winning the first mix doubles qualifying level tournament championship at Trilogy in Rio Vista. Soon they will join women doubles champion Judy Griffith and Marcia Penning to go to Vistancia, Peoria, Arizona to represent us at the 1st Annual All Trilogy Tennis Tournament . I want to thank all the participants for many exciting matches and for displaying good sportsmanship during the two weeks of the two tournaments. I also want to thank all the numerous tennis fans who came out to watch the matches. I personally enjoyed the ambience of excitement--- even though Nancy and I got PULVERIZED---and I hope you all did too. My only regret is that now that the tournaments are over, I am no longer a sportswriter. By the way, if you guys enjoyed the lay out of the pictures with the play by play description, I need to extend billions of thanks to Dave Hinders, Chuck Williams, Joe Downes, and Cora Velasco. These are the people who contributed a lot to make things exciting. If I left anyone out, I apologize. George Sablan

Director Player Development

---

As participants, spectators, scorekeeper and webmaster we would like to second George's comments regarding the level of play and the sportsmanship displayed by all. On behalf of all of George's pupils, we would like to express our thanks to the Coach for his instruction and dedication to the game.

Chuck & Dave

Semi-Finals Saturday

Hello tennis enthusiasts!!! The two tennis semi-finals matches were played today and here are the results. Many tennis enthusiasts, in fact this was the biggest crowd during the last two weeks , came to watch good tennis!!! The first match was between #1 seeded players Nancy Whitney/George Sablan and Kathie Zirretta/Dave Hinders. Nancy/George lived up to their #1 billing by ending Kathie/Dave's winning streak and now moved on to play the championship event Sunday 9/30/07 8:00am. As expected, Kathie Zirretta hit endless power baseline shots to Nancy Whitney but Nancy played near flawless defense and many times converted defensive to offensive shots. The last time Nancy displayed shots this good was two years ago when she played mix-doubles with George and won the number one position at Brentwood against Brentwood's very strong mix-doubles team. Dave Hinders, as usual, tried to take every opportunity to score from short range. He did score but not enough to overcome the strength of the #1 seeded players. He had excellent serves with good speed but Nancy who likes receiving power serves returned nearly every one. George's strategies were to use tempo, not power, to lob, to hit down the middle, or to angle the shots each time he was close enough to the net. The strategies worked. The second match was between #2 seeded players Tommie Matsushino/Leo Taylor and #3 seeded players Naomi Subala/Orlando Devera. The #3 seeded players upset the #2 seeded players and will now play the championship event Sunday 9/30/07 8:00am. Both teams started slow because of jitters possibly due to having a big crowd watch them play. Slowly but surely, Orlando started to overcome the jitters and started to attack the net winning almost every point. While Naomi kept the ball in play, Orlando found many ways to put it away. Naomi was a happy camper at the baseline. She was very steady and mixed regular ground strokes with lobs that frustrated the opponents. The opponents tried so many things to get her out of her comfort zone but all to no avail. Everyone knows that Leo Taylor is one of the top players and everyone knows that he can start slow and like a light switch, he can turn on his game. Leo can be everywhere on the court because he is a very fast and can score from everywhere. Leo hardly ever loses a match regardless who his partner is. Guess what? The real Leo Taylor did not show up and his game never picked up. At the beginning of the second set, Iris Lucero cheered, "COME ON LEO!!!" And a minute or so later, Iris said, "LEO IS WAY OFF HIS GAME." I wanted to ask Leo what happened, but knowing him as a gentleman and true professional, he will not use any excuse for losing a game. Leo is the type of player who will say that today the better team won. Tommie played good from the baseline, returned lots of balls with good pace but Naomi frustrated Tommie by mixing up the shots, some with regular ground strokes and many with lobs to various parts of the baseline. Mark your calendar. On Sunday 9/30/07 8:00am, the championship match will be played. There is no doubt this match will be exciting!!!! Both Naomi and Nancy can hit to each other all day long from the baseline. Orlando will have to be creative to find ways to score points or find ways to hit balls between George and Nancy which will be difficult because both George and Nancy have good court coverage. On the other hand, George will have to switch from tempo to sheer power to drill holes wherever possible. Orlando and Naomi are capable of upsetting the #1 seeded players just as they found the capability to upset the #2 seeded players. Can they really do it? You all come and watch the match to see if they can do it. This will surely be an exciting championship final. The winner of the mix-doubles championship final will go to Vistancia, Peoria, Arizona for the 1st Anuual All Trilogy Tennis Tournament George Sablan Director Player Development