Riding the momentum of an early service break in the second set, 'Aiea's Dennis Lajola rallied to beat Shane La Porte, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, yesterday in the singles final of the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Honolulu Futures tennis tournament at the University of Hawai'i courts.

"It feels amazing to win this tournament in Hawai'i — my hometown," said Lajola, who is awaiting NCAA clearance so he can play for UH. "When I came back in April, my goal was to do well in the Futures. I really worked hard on my mental and emotional game."

Lajola, who spent four years training with the USTA High Performance team, proved mentally and physically stronger than his opponent from Hermosa Beach, Calif.

"I think he is fitter than me," La Porte said. "I got a little tired and it seemed like he got stronger and stronger."

Lajola took a 4-2 lead in the first set, but "played some sloppy points" that allowed La Porte to win it.

"In the beginning of the second set I told myself that I've been here so many times, down a set, this is nothing different," Lajola said. "I just stayed positive and tried to put the pressure back on him."

The momentum shifted when Lajola broke at 2-1, and snowballed from there.

In the doubles final of the USTA Pro Circuit tournament, Carsten Ball and Rylan Rizza defeated Hawai'i's Ikaika Jobe and Brad Lum-Tucker, 7-6 (7), 7-5.