Netters, anglers make headlines

The past two weeks saw CNMI bets making their marks here and off-island.

Last week, the islands’ top junior netters competed in the 2008 Pacific Oceania Junior Championships held at the Robin Mitchell Regional Tennis Centre in Lautoka, Fiji, with Ji Hoon Heo giving the CNMI its best finish in the annual tournament.

Heo was runner-up to Lorenzo Pineda of Vanuatu in the boys’ 18-under division, duplicating his feat in the 2007 edition of the PJOC.

Girls’ 13-under player Thea Minor finished third, while Rafael Jones and Christian Miller were ranked fourth and eighth in the same age group. Mayuko Arriola placed fifth in the girls’ 18-and-under category.

The CNMI netters competed against the top junior players in the Pacific, including those from powerhouse New Caledonia.

Two weekends ago, Saipan Fishermen’s Association hosted the 24th Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament, which drew participants from Guam and Tinian.

Cabo Express of captain and Rep. Heinz Hofshneider claimed the Grand Prize trophy for the second straight year with its 484-lb. marlin, the heaviest single catch in the tournament.

Not to be outdone was another Saipan boat, MV Gloria II, which caught a record-breaking 52.85-lb. wahoo.

Other events in the past weeks worth mentioning were the naming of four track and field athletes as NMASA’s top athletes for June, the TOC winners, and the CNMI Junior Nationals Team.

Jack Kabriel, Yvone Bennette, Trevor Ogumoro and Jacque Wonenberg were named June’s best athletes after their performance in the 2008 Oceania Grand Prix Championships at the Oleai Sports Complex, two months ago.

Kabriel won a silver in the 3,000m steeplechase, setting a new CNMI record of with a record-breaking time of 12 minutes, 20.07 seconds, thus earning the NMASA Male Athlete of the Month.

Bennett notched the NMASA Female Athlete of the Month award after shattering three CNMI marks.

Wonenberg took one gold, one silver, and two bronzes in the Oceania tournament, while Ogumoro netted a silver, giving them the NMASA Student Athletes of the Month plum.

Over at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort, Guam’s George Tydingco stole the show from Saipan parbusters, as he made a hole-in-one shot on the No. 15 hole in the east course.

Another Guamanian outclassed Saipan’s top golfers, as Louie Sunga ruled the centerpiece Championship Flight. Other flight winners were Jin Ahn (A Flight), Luis Byun (B Flight), Mel Grey (C Flight), Edward Manibusan (Seniors Flight), Lito Mendoza (Super Seniors Flight), and Noriko Togawa (Ladies Low Gross).

The past two weeks also saw Ford Rangers and pennant champions Rock Steady battle each other and frequent power outages as the 2008 Budweiser Saipan Major League best-of-five championship kicked off.

Robert Talavera also returned to his championship form after winning the Inaugural Classified Masters Bowling Tournament held last Aug. 10. at the Saipan Bowling Center in San Jose.

With the 2008 FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament kicking off next month, coach Rufino Aguon also named the CNMI Junior Nationals, two weeks ago. [B][I](Roselyn B. Monroyo)[/I][/B]