Streaks continue in Micronesian jr. tennis

  Three players extended their respective streaks as the 2012 Micronesian Junior Tennis Championships wrapped up yesterday at the Pacific Islands Club hard court in San Antonio.

Thea Minor notched her fourth girls U18 tiara in the Micronesian tournament, Christian Miller gained his fourth straight boys U18 title of the year, and Chris Cajigan bagged his third consecutive boys U15 crown in 2012 and second in a row in the same annual competition.

Minor, who defeated older sister, Theecel, in 2010 and 2011 editions of the Micronesian tournament and Lila Mailman in 2009, ruled the round-robin girls U18 event that started last Friday. She first downed Mikayla Lopez, 6-0, 6-1, last Friday, and then won via walkover against Melody Johnson last Sunday. Minor’s third win was recorded yesterday and a 6-0, 6-0 triumph over Alina Ishikawa allowed the former to sweep the field and secure the championship.

In the boys U18 division Miller stretched his winning run to four after thumping rival Rafael Jones, 6-1, 6-3. Miller’s streak started in the Coconut Classic in February when he beat Amami Sakano in the finals, 8-4. The 16-year-old netter also reigned in the PIC tournament against Daniel Park last month, 6-1, 6-3, and in the CNMI Junior Championships early this month after thwarting Jones in a three-set finale, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4.

Jones advanced to last Monday’s finals after sweeping Jake Lee in the second semis game last Sunday afternoon, 6-4, 6-3. Miller took the first finals ticket and strengthened his bid for his fourth straight championship this year after a 6-2, 6-3 semis victory over Sakano last Sunday morning. Sakano also lost in the consolation game against Lee, 2-6, 0-6.

In the boys U15 division, Cajigan successfully defended his title after downing first-time finalist Moris Villanueva in the championship game yesterday afternoon, 6-4, 6-3. The boys U15 title was third in a row for Cajigan this year, as he also took the age group crown in the PIC tournament and CNMI juniors, both against Carl Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz missed a rematch against Cajigan when Villanueva pulled off an upset over the former in the lower half bracket semis last Sunday, 6-2, 6-2. Cajigan, on the other hand, marched into his second straight finals stint in the Micronesian event after easing past Dylan Ackerman in the upper half bracket semis. Cajigan won last year’s U15 title against Chris Park.

Besides the U18 and boys U15 competitions, the Micronesian tournament also featured events in the girls U15 and boys and girls U12 and U10. Results of other divisions will be published in Saipan Tribune’s Wednesday edition.