Netters, cagers deliver in crunch time

CNMI junior netter Ji Hoon Heo played only in his first tournament of the year on Saipan last week, but still delivered when he ruled the centerpiece men’s open singles division of the 9th Annual PIC Tennis Championships held at the Pacific Islands Club hard courts.

Heo won in the finals over former Drake University standout and Coconut Classic defending champion Kirk Schuler, 6-4, 6-0.

Also delivering under pressure were Heo’s fellow junior netters Thea Minor, Christian Miller, Carl Dela Cruz, Melody Johnson, and Tammy Ackerman, and adult players Dong Min Lee, Denis Karyakin, and Eun Kyong Lee.

In basketball, three various leagues entered the crucial stage of their competitions last week.

In the 2009 Navy Hill Friendship Basketball League, Dollar Days and KFC /Taco Bell split the first two games of their best-of-three title series.

In the 2009 BANMI/Budweiser Basketball League, Docomo Pacific and Diamond Auto Fixers are both a win away from clinching finals tickets after nailing two victories each in the playoff round. Ol’Aces, Quichocho Law Office, IT&E, and CNMI Nationals are still in contention, while the Runnin’ Rebels were booted out.

In the 2009 Budweiser Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino Invitational Basketball League over at the Tinian Municipal Gymnasium, the semifinals cast was completed with Pacific Islands Club and Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan/Saipan Grand Hotel joining early qualifiers Hyatt Regency Saipan and Aqua Resort Club. Host Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino and Saipan World Resort were eliminated.

Hopwood Junior High School was also out of playoffs contention in the ongoing Budweiser Inter-Government/Business Slow-pitch Softball League, but bowed in style after drilling its first win in 19 games via a close 15-14 victory over Saipan Mayor’s Office.

The title game in the 2009 Han Nam Market Cup at the Oleai Sports Complex Field was also a neck-and-neck battle with FC Arirang prevailing over Inter Godfather’s, 1-0.

Kim Kwang Sik scored the winning goal in the 40th minute, as FC Arirang went undefeated in four games in the one-day soccer tournament.

Seven teams joined the Han Nam Market Cup with squads divided into two pools. Joining FC Arirang in Pool A were Multinational FC, Wild Bill’s Independents, and Marianas Pacific United. Inter was in Pool B, along with Korea Junior and Club Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino.

Talking of unbeaten teams, the 2009 IT&E Badminton Doubles Tournament kicked off at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium with six pairs earning perfect records.

Also keeping their clean slate were the Ol’Aces, who notched their seventh straight win in the Major Division of the 2009 Saipan Little League Baseball competition after whipping the Enforcers, 18-7, at the Miguel “Tan Ge’ Base Pangelinan Ballfield.

Over at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield for the Junior Division, the Patriots avenged their first round loss to the Ol’Aces via a 10-9 triumph.

The Patriots improved to an 8-1 slate.

In the 2009 Budweiser Saipan Major League, which is also being played at the “Tan Ko” ballfield, the Ford Rangers escaped past the Tanapag Falcons, 8-7, to join the D-9ers on top of the team standings.

Kieran Daly was alone when he crossed the finish line for the Olympic-distance triathlon tournament.

The PIC general manager timed in two hours, 20 minutes in the race that started from Paupau Beach to Bird Island Lookout and back. The race was one of several events leading up to the XTERRA Saipan Championship and Tagaman Triathlon.

A total of 21 triathletes joined the tournament, according to event organizer Michael S. Johnson of the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation.