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National tennis team to do their best in Fiji
The CNMI National Tennis Team to the Pacific Nations Cup are joined by Robbie Schorr, second from left, and Tahiti national netter Heimanarii Lao San, second from right, during a practice session at the American Memorial Park tennis courts. From left, Colin Ramsay, Schorr, Isabel Herras, Bobby Cruz, San, and Hye Jin Elliot. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
The CNMI National Tennis Team will use the experience they gained from the recent Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022 to play their best in the Pacific Nations Cup set from Aug. 1 to 7 in Nadi, Fiji.
“We’ll be taking the experience and wisdom imparted on us by coach Jeff Race. In my capacity as both player and coach, I can guarantee that we will show up and give each match our all. The competition will be fierce, but we’ve prepared. We’ll be leaning into discomfort and pushing our limits and learning as players and as a team. While I can’t predict the outcome of the competition, I am certain of the fight we’ll bring, and I know the team will emerge undoubtedly having grown from the experience. As always, our goal is to make the CNMI proud,” said Bobby Cruz.
Joining the Public School System director of Instructional Technology and Distance Education in the CNMI’s team for the Pacific Nations Cup are Colin Ramsay, Isabel Herras, and Hye Jin Elliott.
Sponsored by the International Tennis Federation, the Pacific Nations Cup gathers the Top 64 players from 15 member nations of Pacific Oceania to compete in a weeklong tournament.
Cruz said he and the rest of the national tennis team will depart for Fiji on July 30 and take a long flight transiting through Korea and Sydney, Australia before arriving in Nadi.
“The team hopes to build on the success of the Pacific Mini Games and continue to gain experience in preparation for both the Micronesian Games and the Pacific Games which are fast approaching. The goal is to execute the hard work put in over the summer,” said Cruz.
The 2023 Micronesian Games will be held in Majuro, Marshall Islands and the 2023 Pacific Games will be hosted by Honiara, Solomon Islands.
The playing coach also thanked the national team’s many sponsors for helping them raise funds to finance their trip to the Pacific Nations Cup.
“The cost for participation was exorbitant, however, with the support of Paradise Dental, the Rotary Club of Saipan, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, IT&E, and many generous community donors the team will represent the NMI in the prestigious tennis event,” he said.
