Sierra’s Brady Alves felt that he was at his best in the Valley Oak League Tournament singles championship Thursday at Manteca Regional Tennis Center.

Yok Chai Ma is just on another level, even as he works himself back into form after a midseason illness disrupted his training. The Manteca High junior prevailed 6-4, 6-1 for his second VOL singles

 crown and third overall — he was part of the championship doubles duo as a freshman.

“I felt like I had some moments where I was playing like myself, but overall, for the season specifically, I have not been playing as well as I can,” Ma said. “I just tried to stay focused point by point and play my game.”

Ma was dominant to start, taking the first four games. Alves rallied back to tie it at 4-4 before Ma regained control of the opening set. The second set was more competitive than the five-game margin would indicate, but in the end, Ma’s baseline coverage and aggression at the net were too much for Alves to overcome in their rubber match.

Alves handed Ma his first league loss in an upset early this season, but the Manteca standout avenged the loss with a decisive sweep. The two also met in last year’s league finale won by Ma.

“I think it was probably the best I played out of the three times I’ve played him,” Alves said. “We both elevated our game to another level, and both of us wanted to win really bad. He just got those close points, and those ones that I’d like to get back.”

The two singles finalists qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Individual Tournament, which takes place May 13-14 at Johnson Ranch Racquet Club in Roseville.

The VOL is also sending its two doubles finalists. The top-seeded tandem of Central Catholic’s Julian and Michael defeated Oakdale’s Jaden Lebsack and Levi Hensley 6-0, 6-0 in the final Thursday.

Manteca’s Michael Osanna and Michael Levechenko was more competitive against the Central Catholic tandem in the semifinal, falling 3-6, 4-6. The two Buffaloes went on to win the third-place match against Oakdale’s Neil Ongkingco and Matt Yakligian, 6-4, 7-5.

Osanna also placed third in the singles tournament on Tuesday.

Up next is the Sac-Joaquin Section team tennis playoffs begging Tuesday, April 30 for Divisions I-II and May 1 for Divisions III-IV. Qualifiers from the VOL are co-champs Sierra and Oakdale and third-place Manteca.

“We have a great team this year, and I’m really hoping we can win a Section championship,” Alves said. He led the Timberwolves to a share of their school’s first boys tennis title. “For the singles Section Tournament, I went to it last year but it would be great for our program if I can get a win this year.”