Extra NPQ slots for CNMI jr. netters

The CNMI Junior Team was given additional entries to the 2012 North Pacific Qualifying Tournament due to its strong showing in the annual competition for the past several years.

“I have just learned from OTF executive director Patrick O’Rourke that due to our players’ excellent performances the last few years, they are allotting the CNMI at least one additional player in each age group this year. This means that we will be able to field at least five players in each of the U15 and U12, as well as four players in the U18. Great news due to all hard working players, their parents, and coaches,” CNMI coach Jeff Race said in an email sent to players and their family members.

Race added that they will be able to fill 27 of the 28 slots allotted to the CNMI.

Last year, Race brought 23 players in Guam for the NPQ. Commonwealth players getting NPQ tickets are selected based on their performance in various tournaments here—DFS Tennis Championship (May), Tan Holdings Classic (November and December), Coconut Classic (February), PIC Tournament (March), and the CNMI Junior Championship, which will be held on May 28 and 29 and May 5 and 6. They earn points and are ranked once the five local competitions are completed and the Top 4 players in the boys and girls U15 and 12 age groups gained NPQ slots, while the Top 2 in the U18 division also earned tickets to the qualifier.

In the NPQ, which Guam will host anew in June this year, the CNMI junior netters will be up against representatives from the host, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Then the Top 2 finishers in the U18 age group and Top 4 in the U15 and U12 in the NPQ will make up North Team that will battle the East and West squads in the 2012 Pacific Oceania Junior Championships in Lautoka, Fiji, this August.

Last year, the CNMI had 11 players on the North Team. The list included U12’s Carl Dela Cruz, Moris Villanueva, Negahr Rastguiy, and Tammy Ackerman, U15’s Christian Miller, Jake Lee, Melody Johnson, and Mikayla Lopez, and U18’s Rafael Jones and Thea Minor, who all placed in the Top 4 in the 2011 NPQ. Theecel Minor completed the roster after getting a wild card in the girls U18.

Meanwhile, Race is reminding interested participants in the CNMI Junior Championship that they have until only April 21 (6pm) to turn in entry forms and fees. Events to be played in the championship include the boys and girls U10, U12, U15, and U18 singles, mini tennis (co-ed), and U13 and U18 doubles.