Lee dethrones Minor in U18 finale

Jake Lee goes for a backhand return from the baseline during his title game against Thea Minor in the co-ed U18 singles event of the 2014 White Coconut Classic Tennis Tournament yesterday at the American Memorial Park tennis courts. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Jake Lee foiled Thea Minor’s bid for back-to-back titles in the co-ed U18 singles division of the 2014 White Coconut Classic Tennis Tournament after waltzing his way to an 8-2 win in yesterday’s finals at the American Memorial Park tennis courts.

It was Lee’ first boys U18 title, as he fell short in his debut in the age group in 2012 and missed last year’s tournament. The newly crowned champion barged into the finals after easing past Colin Ramsey in the first semis game last Saturday, 8-1. Minor, who won last year’s title against Amami Sakano, 8-2, earned a return trip to the finals after spoiling Christian Miller’s comeback in the other semis match, 8-2.

Joining Lee on the champions list in the singles were Rintaro Miyawaki, Ken Song, Luther Lizama, and Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan teaching pro Luke Beling.

Miyawaki also clinched his first U10 singles crown after ruling the round-robin U10 singles competition. He went unbeaten in three games, securing the championship yesterday morning after downing rival Ji Min Woo, 6-3. Before their outing yesterday, Miyawaki and Woo held similar 2-0 records. The U10 champion topped Daniel Kang in Week 1 of the annual event, 6-4, and shut out Anthony Gregoire last Saturday, 6-0, to move a win away from bagging the boys U10 title. Woo also blanked Gregoire, 6-0, in the opening week before outclassing Kang last Saturday, 6-2. Kang rounded out the Top 3 after whipping Gregoire yesterday, 6-0.

In the boys U12 singles, the top-ranked Song lived up to his lofty billing after an 8-2 title win over Sean Lee yesterday morning. The finals showdown between the Top 2 players in the draw took place after Song eliminated Jamin Elliot in the upper bracket semis, 8-1, and Lee ousted Gang Min im in the lower side, 8-6.

In the boys U14 finale, Lizama survived a rally from Robbie Schorr, who came back from a 1-6 deficit and even tied the match at 6-all, before the former took the last two games to eke out the tough 8-6 triumph.

Lizama was seeded second in the draw and booked a finals berth after beating Tony Kim in the semis of the bottom half bracket, while Schorr got a free finals pass after a victory via walkover against the injured and top-ranked Michael Ren. Ren did not play in the consolation match, too, giving the third place trophy to Kim.

Meanwhile, Beling made it two in a row against fellow coach Jeff Race. The two mentors slugged it out for the men’s singles crown with Beling coasting past Race in yesterday’s finale, 8-1, to duplicate his victory over the former in last year’s Tan Holdings Tennis Classic.

Beling finished the round-robin tournament unscathed in three games, as he also prevailed against Fr. Ryan Jimenez, 8-0, and Gary Ramsey, 8-1. Jimenez saved third place after outclassing Ramsey yesterday, 8-4.

Meanwhile, results in the girls singles and mixed-up doubles will be reported later this week.